Cicero to Messinio. ¶ THE ARGVMENT.

He signifieth to his friend Messinius, that he is desirous to see him, and exhorteth him to mitigate and assuage the heauinesse and bitternesse of his troublesome times, with the communicating of letters, and with the comfortable remembrance of a good conscience.

MOst acceptable were your letters: which gaue me to vnderstand no lesse thē I presupposed, before you applyed your pen to the practise of inditing: namely, yt you were inflamed with a maruellous desire to sée me: which singular courtesse of yours I can not but well accept, yet so notwithstanding, that you imagin the same scant counteruailable with the kindnesse, where with for your sake I am affected. For so do I wish al things to chance vnto me, as I professe my selfe touched, or rather stinged with a desire to be in your presence. For, at what time the nūber of honest men, good citizens, Honestie, ple santnesse, and loue▪ are the causes of kynd nesse, and the special allurements, why we couet to be to gether. pleasant companions, and such indéede as lo •… ed me, and made of me great account, was not small: yet among so many, there was not one, with whom I would 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 spende my time, then with you, and very fewe with whom I wish to be so willingly. As for this time wherin we now liue, for so much as some of our acquaintance are swallowed vp with the sworde, some scattered in varietie of soiles, and othersome haue altered the former disposition of their will: one dayes space, spent in your societie, ministreth to my minde larger delightsomnesse, then all the time which I waste with many of them, among whom necessitie cōstraineth me to make continuance. I would not haue you conceiue this opinion, that solitarinesse, or a wandering life in a vast wildernesse, or an vnfrequented abiding, is vnto me more pleasant and comforta •… le, (which I may not vse by any meanes) than the conference & communi •… ation, which I haue with Of Caesars acquaintance. sundry Gentlemē, that haue vsual resort to my house, one or twaine at the vttermost excepted. Wherfore I refuse not to run to that refuge of succour, which (in my iudgement) you ought to imbrace, namely intercourse of friendly Epistles, and also an assurance of both our consciences. For I am the man, as you may lightly coniecture, and without curious canuassing gather, that haue at no time, attēpted any thing, more for my priuate commoditie, then for the furtherance of my friends, and profite of my citizens, at whose estate and condition, if He meaneth Pompeius. he had not enuied, and maliciously repined, towards whom your affection was neuer inclined, (for I was your beloued) both he him selfe had béene fortunate and happie, and all other giuen to vertue and goodnesse. Such a man am I, as doe both wishe and will, that the violence of none haue force so farre to preuaile, as henest ease and tranquillitie power to ouer come, and when as I perceiued, that the selfe same Caesars armie. armie which I most mistrusted, was of greater abilitie, then the mutuall consent of suche good Gentlemen, whome I (by myne owne procurement) assembled, then thought I thus in my mynde, that it could not be much preiudiciall and hurtfull to conclude Yea, though the condition we •… e scant honest. peace vpon any condition whatsoeuer, so that safetie might be obteined, and daunger auoyded, then to encounter him vpon confidence of sufficient force, to whome in strength and fortitude I am inferiour. But of these matters, and of other circumstances, we shall talke shortly face to face without interruption. There is nothing which sticketh so fast in my cogitation, as the state of the affaires in Caesar tooke one part, Scipio another, and •… uba the king. Africa, the expectation whereof keepe me in Rome, for nowe (as it should séeme) the matter lies a bléeding, and is brought into a very narrowe point of perill, and surely I thinke that in some respect it toucheth me, although howe much or howe little, out of question I am ignorant: neuerthelesse, whatsoeuer is reported vnto me from thence, I knowe the counsels of my friendes and welwillers are in a readinesse. For nowe the matt •… r is growne towardes such hassarde, that, although in their two causes which are at de •… aunce and dealing of blowes in battell, great difference consisteth, yet small oddes is there in their He supposeth that both their victories will smell of crueltie. victories, except I be farre and wide deceiued. But to discouer a plaine truth, my mynde, which in matters of difficultie and doubtfulnesse was not a little inféebled, in fearefull daungers, and terrible desperation is mightily cōfirmed: & your last letters haue affoorded to the same, further establishment: whiche conteined a testimonie of your valiauntnesse, in suffering iniuries with a couragious stomache: besides that, sithence your singular humanitie & gentlenesse, was to your presermēt, and your letters also a meanes for your aduantage, I féele my selfe thereby somewhat assisted. For I wil write no vntruth, I tooke you to be a man •… f a soft nature, and a milde spirite, as we are all for the most part, that haue lead our liues in a frée and a fortunate common wealth: Howbeit, as we inioyed When the common wealth was glorious. prosperitie, and the floure of felicitie with moderation▪ so nowe also, in this aduersitie, and In that wee are 〈◊〉 to Caesar. declining of fortunes fauour from vs, ought we to sustaine all perplexities with patience: to the intent that in most mayne mischiefes, we might •… nde this good remedie, not onely to contemne and despise, but also to desire and long after death, which we ought not to feare although we 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 with blessedness •… , For he is of op •… nion, th •… t our my •… des or soules are immortall: which he pro •… i •… his booke of old age so intituled. 〈◊〉 ▪ i •… 〈◊〉 •… 〈◊〉 of the senses, and leauet •… the 〈◊〉 •… rustrate 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . This tranquillitie, ease and •… ietnesse▪ 〈◊〉 you •… hase and p •… ssesse, if you loue me in dé •… de, if your friends •… ip •… e feruent▪ & 〈◊〉 kindnesse not controulable▪ yea plant this▪ persuasion in your minde, That nothing (blame and offence 〈◊〉 ▪ 〈◊〉 you haue neuer •… éene 〈◊〉 vnto, an •… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ▪ Can chaunce in the life of any man wherein horror is harboured, or feare intertain •… d. I wil come and visite you shortly, if I may sée time conuenient: if any thing fall out in suche sort, that an alteration of our counselles must insue, I will certifie you without delay. Sée that you remaine so desirous to sée me, that you remoue not from the place where you be, sithence you are weake and cras •… e, before you aske mine aduisement by your letters, what my will is to haue you doe in that behalf. I would that you should loue me stil, as you now do no lesse, and as I wish that your health be carefully considered, so I woulde not be well pleased, if in tranquillitie and quietnesse your minde should not be established.

Fare you well.

Cicero to P. Lentulo. ¶ THE ARGVMENT.

This Epistle is altogether consolatorie or comfortable: for he mi •… istreth consolation to Lentulus by comparison of his owne times and troubles, when he being in banishment fo •… a sea •… on, recouered notwithstanding the benefite of his countrie, and the possession of his dignitie. The occasion why the Epistle is so shor •… , was, for that Pollio went to Lent •… lus of set purpose, to make report vnto him of all thinges by word of mouth.

OF all things done here, Of the coū trie Asinia. Pollio (who was not only present, but also had the ordering and disposing of them) shal sufficiently giue you to vnderstand. As for my selfe, the confidence and hope which I conceiue in your matters and bus •… nesse, comforteth me a midde the maine seas of my sorrowes and heauinesse▪ bycause▪ I suspect it is like to come to passe, that by the procurement of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 counse •… s, mens maliciousnesse shal be infeebled and weak •… ned, as also by the benefite of that happie day of restitution, not only the thoughts of Whose vnfaithfulnesse we haue in great suspicion traitours sha •… be preuented, •… ut the cogitations and purposes of your aduersaries shall quite be dissolued: Secondly, the remembr •… unee of mine owne When he was forced to for •… ake his •… ountrie. troublesome times, offer vnto me som •… consolation: a represe •… tation o •… image whero •… •… •… ée in your present estate. For although your worship and countenaunce in a matter of lesse importance be blemished, then my health, sa •… etie, and life ind •… ungered: yet there is such a liuely likenesse and resemblance, that I hope you will iudge me pardonable, if I feare not those things, which your owne self haue alwayes supposed not to be feared at all. But spare not to shewe your selfe the man, whome (from tender yeares) I tooke you to be. Beléeue me th •… , howe much the iniurious dealing of peruersse people shall be increased, so much the worthynesse and dignitie of your person shall be inlarged. As for me, For in time of necessitie, true frendship is more effectuall. looke what dutie & seruice is requireable of a friende to a friende, on my part shall be precisely perfourme •… ▪ I will not deceiue your hope.

Fare you well.

Cicero to Ualerio. ¶ THE ARGVMENT.

This Epistle is tempered with iesting and pleasantnesse. One thing therin is serious, namely where hee giueth thankes to Lentulus, to whose gouernement Cilicia was committed: lastly, it conteineth certaine duti •… of familiaritie towardes the same Valerius.

FOr Hee is pleasantly disposed, calling him Lawier, not as though he were one in deede, but as though he gaue him the name for affec tions sake. why should I not salute you by the name of a Lawyer? I know no cause to the contrarie: Especially sithence in these dayes and as the course of the world nowe is, boldenesse may be vsed for wisedome, impudencie taken for prudence. I haue thanked Lentulus by my letters in your name, and that with diligence. But I would wishe you to looke for no more letters from vs: but rather to take paines to come and sée vs your friendes, and there to make your aboade, where you may growe in worship and estimation, rather then to continue where you are, séeming solitarie wise: albeit some which haue béene with you, report you to be proude and hautie •… arted, bycause you vouchsafe not to answere your clients: and partly spightfull in speache, bycause you answere vnhappily. But nowe Valerius, my desire is to be pleasaunt with you in person: wherefore, doe what you can to come vnto vs: and as for Apulia your natiue countrie, come not at it: that we may be glad of your safe comming hither. For if you goe into Apulia, when you come there, you shall knowe Alluding to the basenesse of his petigre, as though he were maruellous destitute of alliaunce & acqu •… intance. as many of your friendes and kinsfolke •… , as did Whom neither man, womā, nor child knewe but his dog alone. Vlysses, at the ending of his long peregrination and wearisome voyage.

Fare you well.

Cicero to Curio. THE ARGVMENT.

This Epistle hath foure members, or portions. In the first Cicero being accused of Curio for his seldome writing, excuseth him self by the commemoration of his duetie. In the second, he discouereth the griefe of his mynde conceiued through the absence of Curio, and his ioy on the otherside, for Curio his worship. In the thirde is contained an admonition to the deseruing of praise, and to the imbracing of vertue. In the fourth, hee commendeth to Curio the estate of his olde age, being fiftie sixe yeares olde when he wrote this letter.

ALthough I am grieued, that for negligence sake you haue me in suspicion: An excuse with a testimonie of his beneuolence. yet my duetie to be accused of you, did not so muche moue me to be sorie, as the selfe same to be required, did incourage me to be merrie: especially, sithence I am not guiltie of that offence whiche is layde to my charge▪ And assuredly, in that you acknowledge a desire of my letters, therein you declare your selfe, not onely an approued friende vnto me, but also do testifie the swéetenesse of your loue. There hath none escaped the carrying of my letters, whome I might vnderstande to trauell toward •… s you: For w •… o is lesse slouthfull, and more He sayd not more diligent but more quicke and speedie, to the intēt he might rather excuse thē commend him selfe. Epi. •… . Lib. 5. quicke and spéedie to write to his friende then I? As for you, I haue hearde not passing twise, or thrise at the vttermost from you, and when you write, you write very sparingly and shortly: wherefore if you giue vniust iudgement vpon me, why may not I also condemne you in the same offence: and if you séeme loath that I shoulde so doe, then is it your duetie to be more courteous and vpright towards me. But concerning letters, let this suffice: for I mistrust not, but that I shall serue you to your owne contentation with often writing, conditionally, that my labour therein employed, be rather regarded, then refused, accepted then despised. The second part of the Epistle. I am not a litle grieued for your long absence from vs, by the meanes whereof I suffer this inconuenience, that I laboure in the lacke of your most swéete and delightsome acquaintance: and yet I can not but reioyce, for that you haue obtained and wonne (as it were) the maisterie in all thinges, with great worship and renoune, and that fortune assenteth to my desires in all your affaires, suites & businesse. The thirde part or portiō So great is the expectation of your iudgement & wisdome, that I dout not to request & earnestly beséeche you, to returne to vs in such sort confirmed in mind & established, y• the expectation which you in the minds of most men haue kindled, may accordingly be mainteined & nourished: He commen deth and exhorteth together, bycause exhortation shuld be rempered with cō mendation. Epi. 12. Li. 15. And bycause no stormes of forgetfulnesse, no •… empestes of vnthankfulnesse, shall be able to drenche the remembraunce of your duetifull desartes towardes me: I praye you heartily, to repose this in your memorie, that to what prosperitie and dignitie fortune shall aduaunce you,* The fourth part or member. you shoulde neuer haue had the abilitie to aspire there vnto, but that in your childhoode you did lay a listening eare to my faythfull counselles, and shewed your selfe conformable and applyaunt to my most louing aduertisements. Wherfore, such ought your duetie to be towardes vs, and such your affection, that myne For he wa •… foure and fiftie yeares old when he 〈◊〉 this letter. olde age still increasing, and dayly drouping, may be harboured in the hauen of your friendship, and •… nde comfort in the goodnesse of your youth.

Fare you well.

M. T. Cicero to Curio. ¶ THE ARGVMENT.

Hee exhorteth Curio to seeke after praise, fearing, least whiles ciuil warres did spring, hee would decline from the seruice which hee did owe to the common wealth, and take part and confederacie with traiterous citizens.

YOu are not ignoraunt Curio, that of letters there are Three kynd of Epistles or letters. sundry sortes, but of all other none so certaine as that one, whiche moueth vs to inuent matters necessarie, that thereby we might certifie suche as be absent, of that whiche they ought to k •… owe, eyther pertaining to vs, or to them.

Such kinde of letters it is néedlesse to looke for at my hands, sithence you haue as well writers, as reporters, of your domesticall and priuate businesse. As for my matters, I haue nothing newe whereof to giue you intelligence. Beside this, there are two other kinde of letters, which exhibite vnto me no small delectation, the one is familiar and pleasant: the other is weightie and earnest: of which twaine whether it best behoueth me to frame my style vnto, and apply my pen, I am altogether ignorant. Should I vse dalliance in inditing; and pleasantnesse in writing vnto you? Now certeinly I thinke him to be no citizen who setteth his mind vpon toying Bycause of the ciuil wars and contentions. in these tumultuous times. Should I write somewhat vnto you grauely, and disclose some matter of weight? what thing can there be, whereof Cicero can certifie his Curio more seriously, then of cases concerning the common wealth? and in this kinde of letters is my cause conuersant, and so conuersant, that I would not willingly communicate with you, those thinges whiche at this present occupie my mynde. For in so doing I should busie my braine, in matters more hatefull then healthfull. Wherefore, bycause there remaineth vnto me no argument wherevpon to write, I wil vse that litle clause or petit sentence, which of custome I am wont, and I will not be behinde hand to incourage you to the desire and loue of renoune: for you haue a sore aduersarie, and the hope which is alreadie had on your behalfe, excéedeth the boundes of all beliefe: which hope and expectation, you may satisfie, and easily ouercome by the meanes of one thing, namely, if you be certeinly resolued in this point, that earnest labour muste be susteined, and no paines auoyded, in Mening the morall vertues wherewith we win credite to our selues, and commoditie to the state of our countrie. those thinges principally which purchase passing prayse, both with Prince and people, the glory and fame whereof you haue singularly and throughly loued. Much more would I write tending to this same purpose, but that I am persuaded, that of your owne accorde you haue stomach sufficient in this point, and haue your mynde no lesse inflamed to deserue dignitie, then I am ready to put it into your memorie: and this, whatsoeuer it be, litle or much, that I haue touched in my letter, I haue not done, to the intent to kindle your courage the more in this case, but to the ende I might sende you an assuraunce of my loue, and a gage of my hartie goodwill.

Fare you well.

M. T. Cicero to Curio. THE ARGVMENT.

He comforteth Curio mourning for the death of his father, and promiseth that he will be vnto him in place of a second father.

I Haue lost a speciall witnesse of my great loue towardes you, your father I meane, a man of singular vertue and noblenesse: who, by the benefite of his owne praises, and by the meanes of you his true and naturall sonne, had excelled the fortune of all men whatsoeuer, had it béene his good lucke to haue had life prolonged, till such time as he might haue séene you, his valliant sonne, after your returne from the Ouer the which he had peremptoric gouernment, and iudiciall authoritie. prouince, before he gaue his last farewell to the world. But though he be gone, yet I rest in hope, that our friendship is not frustrate of witnesse sufficient. The Gods giue you good of your patrimonie and inheritaunce. I am yours, and thinke that you are no lesse loued and thought vpon, then you were of your father naturall, whiles he lyued.

Fare you well.

Cicero to Curio. THE ARGVMENT.

He reioyceth for Curio his sake, both bycause he was not present at Rome, where many thinges were committed to the preiudi •… e and dammage of the common wealth, and bycause he is in suche a place, where his well doing may winne him worship. For ende, he counselleth Curio to take charge of the common wealth.

HOwe these matters of weight goe, I dare not let you vnderstande by letter, although, in what place soeuer you abide, as I haue already written vnto you in times past, you are subiect to the selfe same danger of By translatition, for hazard of life & goods, aphrase very vsuall. ship •… racke: yet it reioyceth my heart that you are absent, eyther bycause you sée not these things which we sée: or else, bycause your praise is placed in a loftie & famous seate, namely in the open sight, as well of Citizens as of others your fellowes: the report wherof hath sounded in our eares, not by tunes of tongs doubtfull and variable, but by one voice of all men most certaine, and perceiuable. Of one thing I am ignorant, whether I should reioyce or be afraid for your sake, bycause the expectation and looking for your returne is maruellous: not that I am afraide for any doubt of your vertue, that it should not be coū teruailable with the opinion of men: but certainly, for that at your comming, you shall not be able to remedie that which is amisse: all things are so tossed, turmoyled, troubled, topsie turuey turned, and in a manner vtterly spoyled. But I wote not whether I may well commit these matters to writing. Wherefore, looke more largely otherwise to vnderstande the rest. But as touching your owne person, whether you trauell in hope or in despaire of the common wealth: Ciceroes accustomed clause to Curio. for whose nature he well knewe: ouer him was hee careful, lest he should be dā nified. Studie, deuise, prouide those things, which in a worthy man and a good citizen, ought neuer to be wanting, that laboureth with tooth and naile to succor the afflicted state of the weale publique: and, before it be quite ouerwhelmed with the waues of lamentable times, and outrageous manners of mischiefous men, to restore it to the former beautie, auncient libertie, worship and dignitie.

Fare you well.

Cicero to Curio. THE ARGVMENT.

He commendeth highly Titus Annius Milo, labouring for the Consulship and to the intent he might obteine that which he defireth, omitteth no one circumstance nor other, which in a commendatorie letter may be required.

YOur comming to Italie The first wordes detect the desire of the Petitioner was not then hearde of, when I sent Sextus Villius, Miloes friend vnto you with these my letters: Howbeit, when there was an ynkling, that it wold not be long er you came, and that it was perfectly knowen, that you were iourneying out of Where Curio was in office of the Quaestor. Asia toward Rome: the weightinesse of the matter was suche, that we thought these letters could not come too soone to your handes, when we greatly wished, and gladly willed, that they might be conueyed vnto you with all spéede possible. An insinuation, or close entrance, to his petition. If (friend Curio) my desarts towardes you were such, as they are more commended of you, then considered of me, I would, if I had any great petition to make, trie what I could obtaine, if Marke his modestie. shamefastnesse were not my hinderance. For, to a shamefast felow, it is grieuous and troublesome, to craue some great thing of him, of whome he thinketh him selfe by duetie Priuie commending of his merites. well to haue deserued, least the thing which he craueth, might seme to be In requiring is dutie, in defireing is desart. required, rather then desired, and to be counted a recompence and not a benefite. But bycause your merites towardes me are manifest vnto all men, and in the straū genesse of my doleful dayes, appeared, not onely in their brightnesse, but also in their greatnesse: and séeing It is the propertie of a gentle and courteous nature, to affoorde much vnto him, to whome much is due: I doubted not to craue that of you by letter, whiche of all thinges is to me the greatest, and most necessarie. Neyther doe I feare any vnabilitie in bearing the burthen of your innumerable benefites, sithence chiefly I am of this confidence, Frō hope of making recō pence. that there is no fauour nor good turne so great, whiche my mynde cannot conceiue in taking, or in exchaunging of courtesie and making amendes, adorne, & beautifie. I, my studies, al my labour, care, trauell, diligence: for end, all my mynde haue I founded, fastened, and fired vpon Milo his Consulship, wherin I haue determined, not onely to séeke for the commoditie of the office in his behalfe, but also as I ought, for the due praise of pietie. And surely, I thinke no man at any time hath béene so carefull of his health and wealth, as I haue béene of his renoune and honour: in the which I haue béene resolued, my self and all myne to consist. I knowe that you, being but one man, can, if you will, be to him such a furtheraunce and helpe, as ouer & beside the same we néed demaund nothing. We haue al these adiuments and helpes: the loue of good men, obteined through his behauiour in the protectourship of the people, for our cause, as I hope you vnderstand: the desire of the cōmons and multiude, by reason of his Wherevpon Milo spent three whole patrimonies or inheritances. large giftes and presentes, and the liberal disposition of his nature: the fauour and good will of the honourable youth of this citie, and of diuers Gentlemen, who haue giuen him their consentes: finally, our suffragation, or consenting voices, though lesse auailable, yet not disalowable, but iustly For the friendly vsage which he hath shewed vnto me. deserued, and therefore peraduenture worthy acceptation. A guide we must néedes haue, and of a gouernour we can not be destitute, yea one certaine ruler, & high officer must be made, in these stormes & blustering tempests which I haue discouered. From the person of Curio. And if one man among al yt rest, may be desired & wished, to this roome of authoritie, vndoubtedly, we shoulde not picke out one, whome with you we might account comparable. Wherefore, if you can conceiue this opinion of me, that I am not a man vnmindfull of my friende, that I am disposed to courtesie and goodnesse, if there were none other cause of such conceit, then that I lay to my helping hand so earnestly, for Milo his furtherance, finally, if you are of this iudgement, that such benefites as you haue bestowed on me, are not frustrate and cast away: then let me desire thus much of your gentlenesse, that you would stande my friend in this matter whereof I am carefull, that you would employ your trauel and paine for my commendation, or to tell a flat truth, in manner, my life and preseruation. As for T. Annius, thus muche I promise in his behalfe, that no man in the world toward you shall shewe more humanitie, more grauitie, more constancie, more beneuolence and goodwill, if it would please you to vouchsafe him your fauour. And as for my selfe, my worthinesse, honour, dignitie, and renowne, shall by your meanes so much be inlarged, as I must (perforce) acknowledge you to be the very same my benefactour, in the procurement of my praise, that wast sometime the pawne and protectour of When you spared no paines in restoring me to my natiue countrie. my life. But that I am assured, that it is not vnknowne to you, how seriously and earnestly I labour in this petition of Milo, and that therein not only great paines, but also some resistance and striuing is required, I would haue written vnto you more at length: And now I cōmit to your patronage the whole matter and the cause, and mine own person I commend to your courteste. And take this one clause for a conclusion, that if I may obteine at your handes the summe of my supplication, Milo shall not be so much bound vnto you for your highnesse, as I wil be your déepe debter for your goodnes. For the safegarde of mine owne life was not to me so precious, and déere, wherein he shewed him selfe a principall fauourer, as my thankfulnesse shall be pleasant and delectable, in making iust recompence, where vnto I shall be drawne by your onely & alone friendship, as in hope I am persuaded.

Fare you well.

Cicero to Coelio Rufo. THE ARGVMENT.

He commendeth Fabius for fiue things: namely, for his honestie, his learning, his wit, his sobernesse, and his friendship.

I Am well acquainted with Marcus Fabius, a Honestie & learning are linked together, to giue vs to note that vnlearned honestie, or vn ho nest learning are not much cōmendable. very honest man, and passing well learned: I vse him familiarly, and I loue him Pleasantly spoken in the praise of Coelius, for the no table qualities of his mynde. excéedingly, both for the worthynesse of his wit, and also for the excellencie of his learning, and besides these for the singularitie of his sobernesse and maruellous modestie: my request vnto you, is, that you woulde so take charge of his matter as if it were mine. I knowe you are no table patrones. These wordes import some matter of efficacie. He must be a manqueller that meaneth to commit his lyfe to your supportation, and the canuassing of his cause to your defence. But in this man no excuse is seruiceable, for I will take none. You shall set all thinges aside, if you loue me indéede, sithence my friend Fabius is willing to vse your aduise and help. I am in great expectation of the state of * things at Rome, and my desire to vnderstand of them is vehement and earnest: and first of all I would gladly knowe howe it fareth with you: For we haue heard no newes now this long time, bycause of the sharpnesse of the winter.

Fare you well.

Cicero to Appio Pulchro. THE ARGVMENT.

Dolabella accused Appius, and at the selfe same time had married Ciceroes daughter. Cicero goeth about to proue that he was ignoraunt of that which his friendes had done in that case, and gathereth many reasons to the same purpose.

WHen worde was brought to vs of the temeritie & rashnesse of them whiche Somewhat a more milde speach then if he had said, ac cused you. molested you, and sought your disquietnesse, although the hearing of such newes at the first put me beside all patience, and kindled my choler, bycause nothing in the world could chaunce so much against my opinion and mynde: yet notwithstanding, so soone as I gathered my wits together, and felt my selfe better appeased, the faultes layde to your charge séemed vnto me not so heynous and hatefull, but that they might be tollerable, bycause the hope which I had in you and yours, was excéeding great: and many things came to my remembrance, why I shuld thinke this your trouble an inlarging rather of your For in aduer sitie doth vertue and prowesse most flourish. honour, then a blemishe to your person. But one thing I was very muche grieued and displeased withal, that the triumphe which most iustly you did deserue, was so wrongfully wrested from you, by the counsell and consent of a company your spitefull enimies: which if you so estéeme, as I haue alwayes thought it should be set by, you shall shew the example of a wise man: and to the griefe and hartburning of your aduersaries shall most iustly triumphe as an excellent conquerour in déede.

For I manifestly perceiue thus much, that not your manhoode and substance only, but your wisedome and discretion also, are most necessarie and expedient, to make your enimies repent their vnaduised and ouer rash dealing. As for me, I protest before all the Gods, not to be wanting eyther in promise or in performance, in any thing concerning your That there may come none to Rome, to giue euidence against you. dignitie, (for so had I rather say, then for you safetie) in this prouince, which sometime was in your gouernment, and I wyll in your behalfe, supply the part of an aduocate, by speaking: of a neighbour & friend by labouring: of a man well thought of in all cities, by authoritie and countenaunce, and of a magistrate or ruler, by my For then al my frendly of fices and duties shal seme the more forceable, by reason of my noble name, and title imperiall. grauitie and counsell. All that may be, commaund and looke for at my handes: my diligence in discharging the dutifulnesse of a friend, shall be answerable to your expectatiō and thinking. Q. Seruilius deliuered vnto me from you a very short letter, which not wtstanding séemed vnto me too long by many lines: for I thought iniurie done vnto me, therein to be required, wherin my will neuer wanted to do you pleasure. I would not the time had chaunced, wherein you should trie, what account I make of you, howe much I set by Pompeius, which one od •… e mā among al other I moste of all estéeme, and howe dearely I loue Brutus: although in our continuall acquaintance, and dayly familiaritie, you perceiued somwhat, and as you shall hereafter vnderstande and trie further: But bycause it is chaunced, if any thing be ouerslipped and lightly escaped on my parte, let it seeme to you an offence wilfully committed, and a reproch to mine owne person willingly procured, & so I will acknowlege it. Cicero his Embaslad our. 〈◊〉 . Epistola. 4 •… Pontinus, whose intertainmēt with you, was tēpered •… o singular truth & en •… tesie, of which your •… ountie to him warde I am a witnesse, shewēth him selfe maruellous mindfull of you, and hideth not his goodwill, which duetie demaundeth, and al for your furtherance and commoditie: who taking ship to sayle from That he might do what hee coulde, to stay the comming of any to Rome, to witnesse against you. Ephesus to Laodicea, and vnderstanding that his worde and presence might make much for the maintenance of your matter, returned to Rome, that by his meanes, there might no euidence be giuen against you in the citie. And surely, sithence I sée the helps and assistance which you are like to haue, not onely auailable, but also innumerable, I can not doubt, but that this carefulnesse and courteous regard in your behalfe, is like to redound to your greater worship. If you bring to passe that Censors, that is, officers for the reformation of maners be made and ordeined, and if your behauiour and vsage in the same office be such, as it ought to be, and as you are of abilitie to perfourme: I sée none other likelyhoode, but that you shall in time be a great stay & safegard, not to your self only, but to all yours, whiles the worlde indureth. Of this haue a speciall care, and set to the vttermost of your might, that we prolong no time: that when we haue satisfied your minde here by our diligence, we may also giue a triall there to you of our beneuolence. The thinges which you writte vnto me, touching the loue and affection of all men, and al orders towards you, they He vseth the like wordes to Plancus. Epi. 1. Lib. 10. moue me not to any admiration, but yet to heare so wel of you, filleth me with ioy and delectation: and the selfe same thinges whereof you giue me intelligence in your letters, haue my friendes also written vnto me, as witnesses of your well doing. I am replenished therefore with seas of pleasure, as wel for that those things are exhibited and giuen vnto you (with whom mine acquaintance and familiaritie is not only great, but also This he added, to the end he might seme not to haue loued him only for commodities sake. swéete) whiche are due and requisite, and also for that our fantasies and goodwils towarde valiant and painefull men continue as yet in the citie, by a vniuersall consent almost, and there remaine: which vnto my selfe is a pension alwayes of my paines, and the rewarde of my susteined labours. I can not but much maruell how it commeth to passe, that that * yong man, (whose life and safetie, I haue defendedDolabella. with excéeding & earnest labour, from two seueral iudgementes.) should so rashly ouershoot himselfe, vtterly to forget And one whome hee knew to loue you exceedingly. the good patrone, preseruer, and defender of al his possessiōs, goodes, estate, & condition, in taking vpon him so carelesse and fruitelesse a labour, to incurre and runne in hazard of your ill wil and displeasure, you being a man furnished with all maner of safegardes, and beautified with all ornaments of decencie: but he contrariwise (to tell my minde briefly) hauing nothing: He made boaste that that accusation was mainteined by Cicero, because at the same time he married his daugh ter. Whose fonde talke and childishe communication, was reported vnto me long since in writing, by our familiar friend M. Coelius: and whereof also you your selfe haue sent me word by letter. As for me, I had rather cut off all old acquaintance with him, who hath purchased your anger, then to séeke after newe friendship. Neither would I haue you call the loue and affection whiche I beare you, into question, for thereof you ought not to stand in doubt, sithence the same is not vnknown to any in the Prouince, nor vntestified in the citie of Rome. Neuerthelesse, so farre as I gather by the substance of your letters, a certaine kinde of suspicion is signified, and a doubt also secretly mencioned: in the disscussing wherof another time shalbe more conuenient, as well to reason with you too and fro in this behalfe, as also to purge and discharge my self in this case. For, where and in what place haue I béene an hinderaunce to any embassage, to the intent that it might not passe to Rome for the augmentation and inlargement of your praise and honour? Or if I had hated you with a professed spite, and a manifest enuie, wherein could I shewe the fruites of suche: a mischéefe, lesse to your harme and annoiaunce? Or if the enuie wherein I boyled against you were secret and priuie, wherin could I haue shew ed my selfe a more open and sworne aduersarie? And if so be any discredit, and want of honestie, had béen equal or semblable to theirs, which sprinckle vs with these blottes of blame, yet vndoubtedly, It is the point of folly to shew a will to hurte him, whom thou canst not for thy hart by any meanes, annoy. I would not haue swarued so farre wide from wisedome and discretion, either in hidden hate to practise open quarelling, or to bewray the inclination and pronenesse of my hart, to do him harme, whom to annoy is beyond my reache and abilitie. I remember certaine came to mée, and saide, that the costes and expences whiche were appointed for the embassadours, were too large, and greater then they ought, wherein I vsed, not so muche the Very wittily spoken, because he regar deth friendship when hee cōmaundeth: and hath an cie to the law when hee valueth. libertie of commaunding, as I did the equitie of valuation, estéeming them as narrowly as I might, to the tenure and meaning of that lawe, named Lex Cornelia, in that respect prouiding. Wherin, that I made no delayes, or long tariance, the seuerall accountes of the Cities are able to giue in euidence, whiche are of sufficient authoritie to proue, howe muche and howe litle, each particular Citie alloweth, of their Embassadours to be receiued. But with what lyes and false rumors haue light headed men ouerburthened you? that the expences are not onely inhaunced and racked, but also redemaunded & takē away, by their factours that be already gone, & that to be the occasion, that diuers others are restrained. I woulde expostulat and debate the matter with you, but that as I haue protested in my former letters, I had rather at this time say somewhat in mine owne purgation, then against you to commence any accusation: which counsell in déede I like the botter. And therefore, concerning you in that you haue credit •… o suche reportes, I will say nothing: but touching myself, why you ought not to haue beléeued such rumors, I wil say something, whiche shalbe litle. For if so be you take mée for the same man, whom I thought you were persuaded mée to be, I meane •… n honest man, well worthie of that knowledge, learning, and exercises, whereunto from my childehoode I haue béen addicted: if you take me for a man of a valiant harte, and not of the weakest iudgement & aduise, in matters of greatest weight: then ought you to denie that any From his owne person. vnfaithfulnes, fraude, or deceitfulnesse lieth l •… rking in our friendship: yea, & that more is, you must in no wise graunt that it sauoureth of any thing, wherein is any balenesse, vilenesse, or simplenesse. But if by the law of your lust, you account me a craftie, close, & counterfect felow, what is there that can lesse touch so Noble a nature, then either to haue the good will of From the person of Ap pius. a moste honourable man in contempt: or to séeke the empairing & stayning of his estimation and renoune in the Prouince, whose praise hath béene proclaimed and defended in the citie: or to shewe a minde disposed to mischéefe against him, who is not within the precinct of our power to indammage: or to choose that thing to be a testimonie of dishonest dealing, whiche to the discouering of hatred is moste manifest, and to the working of any wrong or inconuenience lest forceable? From the signe of an vn thankefull minde. More ouer, what cause was there, whereby my stomache should so swel against you, that the malice of my minde should be immitigable, sithence I was infourmed of my brother, that you were not mine aduersarie, no not at suche time as necessitie required, you should not haue béene my fréend? And when either of vs, were moued with desire to be reconciled, and to haue our former familiaritie restored: what thing attempted you with mée, when you were in office of the Consulshippe, From his constancie. whereunto you would haue mée giue mine assent, or ioyne mine assistance, but it hath had answerable successe? What thing did you commaund me to do, when I folowed Going toward the prouince. you from Puteolis, in ye accomplishment wherof, my diligence was not counteruailable with your expectation? And if so be, that bée the token and marke whereby to knowe a craftie, and Forelike fellowe, to turne all thinges to his owne aduauntage and commoditie: From that whiche is profitable. What was vnto mée more profitable, what more conuenient for my benefite, then the acquaintance and society of a man most noble and honourable, whose substance, wealth, wisedome, children, Specially Pompeius, & Brutus. kinred, and fréendes, may be to my person a singular ornament, and a souereigne safegarde? To all whiche circumstances, I haue had a due consideration, in séeking to obtaine your fauour, not with fraude, deceipt & subtilty, but with wisdome, sobernesse, & honestie. From semblance of desires & other circumstances What should I say of those bondes & chaines, wherwith I am tyed fast, and as it were fettered, to my greate contentation, howe great are they and of what efficacie? Sē blaunce and likenesse of affections, pleasantnesse and swéetnesse of familiaritie, delectation and ioyfulnesse of life, felowship & comunication, mutuall sending of louing letters: All whiche are domesticall, and touche our priuate persons.

From the opinion of the people. What should I say of that whiche is popular and commune in the mindes of the multitude? The notable reconciliation of vs twaine, and falling againe into familiaritie: wherein offence cannot be committed through ignorance and want of aduisement, without suspicion of vnfaithfulnes: our fellowship in the honourable and reuerend office of y• He meaneth the Augurship wherein they were both Ge rents at one time. priesthoode, in whiche function of religion and ceremonies, it was not onely directly opposite and against the prescript of lawes, instituted by our auncestours, to violate, infringe, and vntie the knottes of fréendship: but it was also prohibited and precisely forbidden, that none should be admitted to that vocation, whose harte fostered enuie, and grudged against any particular person of the same order: all whiche to pretermit and ouerskip, because they are not onely manifolde, but also vehement, who euer had any man in suche estimation and countenance? who (I say) might, or ought, more to haue made of any man, then I did of From the person of Cneius Pompeius. C. Pompeius? For, if so be that merites preuail, if desarts are of any force, then I am of this opinion, that by him my countrie, my children, my safetie, my honour, and my selfe was restored to my selfe. If pleasauntnesse of acquaintance, and swéetnesse of familiaritie are of power: what friendship was there at any time, more harty & sincere, betwirt any two hauing borne the office of Consulles in our citie? if any significations and presidentes of loue and courtesie are forceable: what hath he not giuen mée in charge? In what hath not he taken trial of my credite? what hath he not communicated with mée, as his trustie partener? Whom would he rather haue then mée, to stirre in his behalfe in the Senate and counsell house, Specially at the warre had against king Mithridates. when he himselfe was not present? with what thinges, hath not hée béene willing to adorne and aduaunce mée moste largely? For end, with what facilitie, and quietnesse of minde, did he forbeare mée, when I was in plea in the common place, in the defence of Milo, and yet interrupting and withstanding your procéedinges? what prouidence and fore wisedome did he vse, that no one Because it was suspected that Milo killed Clodius by the counsell of Cicero. sparckle of enuie breaking out from the flame of that time (you wot when) shoulde so muche as once touche mée, when he thought it not much to supporte mée with his counsell, to maintaine mée by his authoritie, and to protect mée with his weapon? In which dayes, vndoubtedly, such was his grauitie, sobernesse, courage, and valiaunt hart, that he would not giue credite to the report of any Phrygian, of any Lycaoni •… was a peece of Ciceroes dominion. Lycaonian, as you did in your Embassadours, but set light by the informations of those men which bare best and iolliest countenaunce, if their reports séemed to sauour of ill will and malice. And for somuch as this mans sonne married your daughter, besides which knitting o •… affinitie, and coupling of kinred, feing that C •… . Pompeius beareth you such hartie goodwill, and in you co •… ceiueth great delight, as I am not ignoraunt: how ought I to be affected towards you, & with what flames of kindnes ought my heart to be kindled? specially, sithens hée sent letters vnto mée, the contentes whereof were of such qualitie, that although I had béene your sworne and professed foe, as I am your most déere and faithful friend, yet must I néedes haue béene appeased, and haue framed my wil to the contentation of him, whose merits haue my seruice at com •… aundement. But hereof thus farre: for that runneth peraduenture, more at large, which is already written, then was necessarie and requisite. Now vnderstand you, what I haue In the Prouince, which thinges dooe pertaine to the purgation of Appius, whom Dolabella accused. attempted and also finished. Wherein wée wil labou •… still, more for your aduauncemente, then for your detriment. For (as I hope) wée shal heare that you shalbe Censor shortly: the office and authoritie of which magistrate, I can none otherwise beléeue, will be better considered off on your behalfe (as it requireth a most valiaunt minde, and singular counsel) more diligently, and more circumspectly, then these matters which wée haue in hand touching your person.

Fare you well.

Sulpicius to Cicero. THE ARGVMENT.

When Caesar made warre in Spaine against Pompeius complices: Tullia, Ciceroes daughter died in childbearth when shee was diuorced from Dolabella, whereuppon Sulpicius sendeth a consolatori •… Epistle, or a comfortable letter to Cicero▪ gathering argumentes and reasons as many as he may, to assuage his heuinesse.

AFter His beginning is orderly and incorrigible. For who so is not sorie for the miserie of his friend, is not to be counted a friend: and therefore his consolation can be of no force. the death of your daughter was reported vnto me: I toke it so grieuously (as in déede I ought) & was stoung with such sorrowe of hart, that I thought in her departure a common calamitie to consist: and if I had béene present with you there, at her death, I doubt not but to haue giuen you a testimonie, and an assured declaration of my sharpe conceiued sorrowe. And although this kinde of comfort is rather miserable, then dele •… able, sowre and vnswéete, then tempered with pleasauntnesse, because they that minister this preparatiue to you, are your néere friends and familiar companions, and so partakers of your pensifenes in equal proportion, that without streames of teares they cannot discharge such a duetie, in so much as they had more néede of others consolation, then themselues, being sorowfull, to presume to comfort the perplexed: yet notwithstanding, I haue determined at this present, to write vnto you briefly, such thinges as offered them selues to my remēbrance: not that I presuppose you to be ignoraunt, what in this case should be accōplished: but because you being now peraduēture ouer whelmed with heauinesse, are not so circumspect as you haue béene accustomed. The original of his com fort is deriued fròm the state of the time. Why should that your inward gréese so consume and waste your personne? Consider, I pray you consider, in what order fortune hath dealt with vs: that by her fumishnesse & terrible thunderings, we are spoiled & left vtterly naked of those things, which with men are in no lesse price and estimation then children, our natiue countrie I meane, how thinke you? our honestie, our dignitie, and al the honours depending vppon our prouinciall estate. This mischiefe and inconuenience being precisely pondered, I am in doubte, whether a more forceable thing can chaunce to ingender pensifenes, and to moue a mans minde to lamentable mourning. And should not hée, whose heart is (as it were) hardened with these greater and more vehement casualties, iudge all other sufferable, and with lesse sorrowe to bée sustained? You will not be so vnwise, I thinke, to be waile Seing many which are wounded and slaine in warre perishe & die in forrow and paine, her cōdition, if you fal into this consideration (as of necessitie you must, and as I mée selfe doe, many and oftentimes) that they are in no ill case, in these dayes specially replenished with tumults, vprores, insurrections, * whose lot and luck it is to make an erchaunge of life accompanied with disquietnesse, for a death deliuered from all vexation, & fortified with perpetual peace, rest, and tranquillitie. What was there in Tullia your daughter, which might greatly kindle in her a wil and desire to haue life lengthened, in this time burthened with troubles? what hope? what confidence? what thing of port & countenaunce? that shee being contracted and married to some noble youngman, might runne the race of her age in his ple •… saunt partenership? You may, I thinke, and it is lawfull for you, in mine opinion, without suspicion of preiudice, to choose and elect, out of the noble and honourable youth of Rome, one young man of whom you doe well like and allowe, to make him Therefore it should seeme that Dolabella & she were diuorced. your sonne in lawe, and to his tuition and gouernment to commit your smal children and orphans, your owne selfe being in safetie. Would you wish that she might liue, and fill the citie by the benefit of procreation, not vsing the company of man? Would you desire, I say, to haue her bring foorth sonnes and daughters, whom shée might behold in their flourishing yeares, and reioyce? who might possesse their inheritaunce diuided vnto them of their father, and therewith liue like gentlemen and gentlewomen? who might As by the lawes it was prouided. In lib. de leg. it is manifest, orderly arise to feates and offices of honour in the common wealth, and in their friends affaires might vse their liberalitie? What of all these thinges is there, which was not taken away, before it was fully giuen? But it is a miserable thinge for a man to lose his children: y• losse of them, no doubt, is miserable, if to suffer open bondage were not much more wretched. Shall I tell you, what put mée in great comfort, when time was? vndoubtedly I will, vppon condition, that the selfe same things might mitigate & weaken your heuinesse▪ As I came oute of Asia, and directed my saile from Aegina towardes Megara, I beganne to take a viewe of the countries rounde about mée. Behinde mée was Aegina, before mée was Megara, on my right hand was Pyraeus, and on my left Corinthus: An argumēt A Maiori ad Minus. For if so be that desolatiō be the end of populous cities, no meruaile though death be the ende of mortal men. which cities were sometime famous and honourable, but now being battered and sacked, lye ruinous and waste. Then thought I with mée selfe: Wée sillie soules, take the matter too too heauily, when any of our acquaintance dyeth, or is slaine, whose life (peraduēture) was but short: and héere how many multitudes of men haue béene murthered? how many townes destroyed, how many faire buildinges ouerthrowne. Wilt thou, Seruius, stay thée selfe, and imprint this in thy memorie: Hominem te esse natum? That by bearth thou art but a mortal man? And belieue me (friend Cicero) in thus thinking, I was sufficiently confirmed. The same thing also, if you please, hange before you as it were a loking glasse: at one time, An argumēt deriued from comparison. so many noble men perished: Moreouer, thus much was diminished from the state of the empyre: finally, al prouinces and places of guard were shaken: and yet in the losse of one womans life, are you so disqu •… eted? who if she had now escaped her dismall daye: yet, doubtlesse, shée had not béene excused, for within a fewe yeares her life would haue ended, From that which cannot otherwise come to passe. because Homo nata est, By bearth she was but a woman. Wherefore withdraw your museing minde from these matters, and turne your studie rather vnto that, which maketh for the renowne of your person: persuade your self that From the person of Tul lia. she liued as long as néede required, and that her vttermost houre passed ouer head: that her continuaunce was in the cō mō wealth: that shée saw you, her good father, in the office o •… the Praetorship: y• shée was wedded As to Piso, C •… assipedes & Dolabella. to proper young gentlemen of good place and calling: that she enioyed in a maner, al the benefites that might be obteined: & that, when the weale publique fainted, her life also fayled. What is there nowe remaining, whereof either you, or shée might meritoriously powre out your complaintes against the iniurious dealing of Fortune? But to draw to an ende: I would not haue you forget that you are Cicero, and •… hat you •… e the selfe same man, which was wont to giue pre •… ptes vnto oth •… rs, and to a •… ist them with your holsome counsell: and not to follow the example of Naughtie Physi •… ians, who professe, and vaunt, that they haue vnderstanding and abilitie enoughe, to cure the diseases of their patientes, but to heale their owne maladies, and to salue vpp their owne sores, they wante wit and cunning: but rather applie to your owne person, y• preceptes which you giue vnto others, and as you would rule other mens minds, so sée y• your owne be gouerned. Nullus dolor est, quem non longinquitas temporis minuat, atque molliat. The same wordes are to be founde in the 28. epistle of the seuenth booke. There is no sorrowe and anguishe so deadly, but continuaunce of time may assuage the bitternes therof, and consume the corsiue eating of the same. But for you to awaite the comming of that time, in hope to vse the aduauntage which it affoordeth, From the opinion & con cei •… e of man. redoundeth to your discommendation: when as your wisedome and knowledge are remedies auailable, to cut off the course of suche an infecting canckar. And admit, there were sense and perseueraunce in the dead ghostes, yet thus much dare I affirme, that the loue which shée oweth vnto you, and the reuer •… nce which shée hath of her friends, would so restraine her will, and bridle her desire, that shée An argumēt drawne from the will of his dead daughter. would vtterly dissallow of this your doing, and in no wise consent, that you should so bitterly lament her death. Denie not this to your daughter deceassed: withstand not the wills of your friends, who are touched with a mutual compassion and sufferaunce of your sorrowe: and graunt thus much to your naturall countrie▪ that in what thing soeuer your counsell and assistaunce are néedefull, you be not wanting. For end, because wée are fallen into this fortune, that oure seruice must not bee slacke in this matter, Because the hart of euery true gentleman, ought to be much more moued with the miserie of the common wealth, then with the death of his children. I wishe you, not to giue occasion vnto other th •… s to thinke, that so much the death of your daughter is lamented, as the troubles of the commonwealth, and other mens 〈◊〉 are bewailed. To write more touching this point, I begin to blush, and am ashamed, least I should séeme to distrust of your wisedome. Wherefore one 〈◊〉 more •… dded, I will end my letter. Wée haue séene you sometimes in flourishing fortune, commendablye dispo •… ed, •… nd thereby able to purchase the price of praise and noblenes: Euen so, bend the powers of your spirite, and •… he force of your mind •… , that in this blustering blast of aduersitie, wée may haue some triall of your constancie: and let not the death of your daughter, lay a heuier burd •… n of griefe vppon you, then behooueth: least among all other An argumēt frō the praise of Cicero. vertues, which in you shine and glister, this one be dasht and blemished. As for mée selfe, when I vnderstand that your minde is somwhat quieted, what is done here with vs, and in what state the Achaia. prouince is, at this present, I wil giue you knowledge.

Fare you well.

Cicero to Sulpicio. THE ARGVMENT.

Hee aunswereth to the consolatorie letter of S. Sulpicius, saying that his sorrowe, after hee had perused the epistle, was somewhat afsuaged, but yet adding this, that hee hath more causes to be he •… uie and sad▪ then any man beside assaulted with the like calamitie.

I Wish, friend Seruius, as you write, it had béene your luck to be present with mée, in my most heauie and grieuous chaunce. For what a propp and •… tay you had béene to mée, both by comforting mée, and also by like lamonting with me, I am well in •… ourmed: because I had no sooner perused the summe of your letter, but I fealt mée selfe some what re •… ieded. For you did write those thinges, which could staunche the streames of my teares: and to quenche mine anguishe, you did discouer the passions of your owne heart. Seruius your sonne, gaue euident demonstrations of all friendly seruice and courtesie, which might séeme pertinent and agréeable to this my infortunate time, both that his good will towards mée, wherein hée was not wanting, might bee manifest: and also, that you therein, for my sake, might participate much pleasure: whose courteous and friendly dueties, exhibited with such humanitie, were (I must néedes say) pouldered with For in miserie, what place is left for plea sauntnes. pleasauntnesse, but yet for al that neuer skarse acceptable. Your words and phras •… of speach doe reuiue my fainting heart, ouerburthened with heauinesse: your suffering of my sorrowe for companies sake, doeth woorke the same effecte: and your authoritie and countenaunce giueth mée, against care, great incouragement: For I suppose it a beastly part, not to abide the brunte of my chaunce, in such sorte, as you (a man of excellent wisedome and iudgment) thinke it to be susteined. But yet my sorrowes sometimes rush vppon me, with such forceable and violent power, that I am beaten downe and kept vnder, and therfore skant able to make resistence: because I perceiue those consolations to forsake me quite, which, with others tossed in semblable tem pestes of aduersitie, remaine vndiminished. For Quintus Fabius. Maximus, who loste his sonne hauing borne the office of a Consul, and counted, when he was aliue▪ a man of great wor thines, in matters of policie, and of singular renowne in feates of cheualrie. Besides him, Lucius A Emilius. Paulus, who in seuen dayes space lost two sonnes, and your Who des •… ē ded of the Sul picia •… familie. Gallus, and M. Cato, who also lost his sonne, a man of profound knowledge, and incomparable vertue: they all liued in those dayes and times, wherein their noblenesse and authoritie which they aspired vnto, in the commonwealth, quite quenched their calamitie, with preseruatiue receiptes of comforte. As for me (miserable man) after I had suffered shipwrack of all the Coūtenance Worship▪ Honour, &c. Epistola. 5. lib. 4. ornaments whereof you make a recapitulation or rehearsall, and saw me self spoiled of that which was my maintenance, and amid all these miseries, hauing but one onely comforte, wherupon to stay as on the anchor of my succour, yet is it my euill and accursed l •… ck, to be robbed of the same too, and thus is infortunate Cicero depriued of al delight. And what hath the losse of this my last ioy procured? A collection of such cause •… as made Cicero sorrowfull, declaring that he is not to be reprehended, for being greued with that, which of righte & reason ought to bee lamented, Hath it not hindered mée from furthering the suites of my friendes? Hath it not made, mee forget mine attendaunce vppon the weale publique? Hath it not made mee haue no will nor stomache to pleade in the common place? Hath it not made me, not onely glad to absent mée selfe from the courte of causes, but also ful loath to •… éeholde the same? and what hath it not done? I thought no lesse, then at length I founde true, that all the profites of my paines, al the commodities of my labours and offices, were vanished: But, when I called thinges to the touchstone of triall, and examined my luck with other men •… hard chaunce: when I found that my fortune was common, as wel with you, as diuers other whom I know: and after I had tormented mée selfe, with the continuall cogitations of my calamities, and beganne to conforme and frame mée to prouoked patience: then I espied an harborough whéether to flée for succour, and I sawe a conuenient hauen where to lye at an •… hor: namely▪ your wordes and communication set downe in liuely letter, the swéetenesse whereof chased away all my cares, and draue all my sorrowes into perpetual exile and banishment. And yet, euen nowe, so grieuou •… is this stroke, and so sore hath this blowe brused, that the woundes which I suffered long agoe, and which haue béene Because time assuageth •… euines. Epist. 5. libro quarti. By whiche allegoricall phrase of speach, hee meaneth his olde sorrowes, whiche were renewed before they were quite for gotten. healed vp and couered ouer with skinne, beginne a •… resh to ware rawe and gréene: For I cannot, as I did then, flée from the 〈◊〉 publique, for succour, to my priuate house, which intertained mée in my heauinesse: so nowe, runne from my priuat •… house, for comfort to the weale publique, in my miserie, that I might refreshe my crac •… te ribbes in her bountie and goodnesse. Wher •… ore▪ I am absent both from the common place, & also from mine owne house: be •… ause, that neither the griefe, which I féele for the cōmon wealthes sake, can be comforted by y• benefite of mine house: nor the sorrow which I sustaine for my house, can be cured by the assistaunce of the common welth: for which causes, I desire y• more earnestly to sée you, and to haue some conference with you. Nothing can so mi •… igate an •… assuage my heauinesse, as the méeting of vs, twoe old acquainted friends, & interlacing of talke and cōmunication. I was in hope of your comming (for so it was tould me) y• you intended to be with me shortly. I wish you here so) ma ny cōsiderations, & principally for this one, that we may del •… berate before hand, betwene our selues, how this time shold be bestowed, which is wholy to be applied to y• pl •… asure and wil of He meaneth Caes •… r. one particular person, in wisedome not obscure, and in liberalitle famous, and as I percei •… e and persuade my selfe, not vnmindful of me, and very At suche time as his sonne tooke Caesars part against Pompei. friendly to you. Which being as it is, great deliberation is required, what order we may best vse, not that any thing shuld be done or attempted, •… ut that in his graunt and goodnesse we may be acquieted.

Fare you well.

Cicero to Marcello. THE ARGVMENT.

He persuadeth Marcellus to abandon al counsel of exile and banishment, and to returne into his countrie: that Caesar is not against it: that his brother desireth it: that the common wealth looketh for it: that the state of his owne houshold and familie standeth in great neede of it.

ALthough I vnderstand, such to be the coūsel & aduisement whiche you haue vsed, that I dare not be so presumptu •… us, as to pronoūce it worthy reprehēsion: but I must néedes séeme to varrie and differ from the same, bycause such is my iudgement touching your wisdome, that I count not my coū sel in respect of yours, deseruing prefermêt: yet notwithstanding, the auncientnesse of our friendship, and your great goodwill towardes me, whereof I haue knowledge and experience from your childhoode, admonisheth me to write those things vnto you, which (in mine opinion) for your safetie were profitable, and to your worthynesse in no point disagréeable. The beginning of his persuasion is deriued from the proofe of Marcellus his vsage in the office of a good Citizen, wherein wanted no perfourmance. &c. I remember very well, that you are the man, which behaued your selfe in the office of your Consulship, no lesse honourably, then vertuously, long before you sawe the sparckles of these enormities and maine mischiefes kindling: and this perceiued I also, that as well the counsel taken for making ciuil warres, and the hoast of Pomp •… ius, and that kynde of martiall preparation, was of you dissolued, and besides that in so litle hope, that it was excéedingly doubted: in whiche mynd, I thinke, you remember I was in like maner. Wherfore you tooke occasion not to be much present at the making of such matches: and I did what I might to be alwaies absent. For we did not fight with those weapons, where whi •… h we might He vseth the same wordes in Epi. 1. lib. 6. haue preuailed, namely, with counsel, authoritie, countenance, and the goodnesse of our cause, which in vs were of greater force: but with armes and sides, wherin we were not the stronger: we were therefore ouercome, or, if dignitie can not be conquered, yet notwithstanding muche empaired, weakened, and wounded. In whiche, your counsell and intent can not but be vniuersally commended, because that, together with the hope and expectation of ouercomming, you did also bridle all desire of fighting, and did declare your selfe to be both a wise man, and also a good Citizen: a wiseman in that you were vnwilling to intermedle when Ciuil contentions were a springing: and a good Citizen, in that you were as lothe to prosecute suche perilous matters to the vttermost. As for those men, to whom this your counsel séemed vnsauourie, and therefore vnworthie the folowing, I sée they are diuided into two kindes: for either they begin to renewe battell, and these men haue taken their way into To Iuba the King. Africa: or els (as wée) haue cōmitted themselues to him, whose luck •… it is to be conquerour. Your counsell is to neither of thes •… In that thou wilt neither renue warre, nor returne to Rome: but remaine in exile. twaine inclined, but as a meane seperated by it selfe, supposing the one to be a signification, peraduenture of a cowardly minde, and the other an argument of a malapert companion. I confesse, that your counsell and determination, is iudged of most men, (and if I said of all men, I should not speake amisse) to proceede from singular wisdome, and from a minde established vpon the foundation of magnanimitie, and y• sure groūd worke of valiantnes: but this your consideration & pur pose, (except I leane beside my cushing,) hath in it a certaine measure & meaning, sithence I suppose, y• to the obteining, & repossessing of all your For the desperation of the whiche he did choose to be in banishment. renoune and substance, nothing, beside will, in you was wanting. For so I vnderstoode, that nothing else offered doubtes to the minde of him, Alluding to Caesar. whose power and preeminence is vniuersall, but that he suspected suche to be your securitie, that you would thinke your restitution to be no benefite: wherof what I iudge, it booteth not to declare, sithence it is apparant, what I my self haue done, whom you may at this present, vse for an example. But if you are fully resolued, to liue rather in perpetuall absence, then to sée that which in no wise you would: From that which is necessarie. yet this ought to be fixed and setled in your cogitation, that in what plotte of land so euer your body abide, you are not exempted from his dominion, but subiect to the power of him, to whome by flight you deny subiection and allegiance: who of his singular clemencie and goodnes, though he should suffer you, now destitute of coūtry, & frustrate of possessions, to liue as you list in peace & quietnes: So that his exile is neither honest nor safe. yet ought you of dutie, to make this your cōtinual meditation, what a godly thing it is for you to lead your life rather at Rome in your owne house, then to be abroade in Mitylene, or in Rhodes. But for so muche as the power of him, to whom we exhibit dutie and reuerence, is so farre dilated & stretched, that it conteineth the compasse of the whole world: were not you better allow of this election, to liue at home wt in the limits of your owne lande, voide of perill and daunger, then in forreigne and straunge places, to sustaine vile annoiance? As for mine owne selfe, The wordes of a most couragious harted man: and better to bee followed then to be spoken. Though I should suffer terrible death, yet had I rather abide the smarte thereof, within the walles of my natiue soile, then in places of great distance, where I am not known. And of this opiniō are From common: consent. al they which loue you & tender your worship, of whō there is a multitude innumerable, whose good harts & wel wishing you haue wun by your excellent vertues, & purchased by the glistering mirrour of your Noblenes. We From that which is profitable and commodious. also your friends, haue a regard to y• condition of your familie, & domesticall affairs, which we will in no case should so run to ruine & docay, as to grow past remodie. For, althogh it can take no such iniurie, as may alwai •… last, & neuer be cut off from cōtinuāce: (because neither he who hath supremacie in the cōmon wealth, nor the cōmon wealth it self, wold sée suche a villanie cōmitted▪) yet I wold not y• your good •… & possessions sho •… ld lie open to the clawes of the gréedie spoilers: & who they be that I terme by y• name, I am not so timorous and white liuerd, but I dare sende you woord in writing, how •… it, I thinke it néedless •… ▪ For in that matter, I am assured, you canne not be ignorant. And in this behalfe, the manifolde cares of one peculiar person, and his continual teares, (Caius Marcellus, I meane, your very good Brother) make intercession, next vnto whome are wée immediatly, in thought and in sorowe, but in the partes of suppliantes somewhat more slacke then •… e, because we can not haue accesse vnto you, sithens wee our selues are destitute of an aduocate. So muche fauour can we finde, as men vanquished may: and as for counsell, aduice, and labour otherwise, to dooe Marcellus pleasure, we will not be w •… nting. That set light by Marcellus his retu •… ne. The rest of yours admitte vs not into their companie: as for vs we are prouided at all assaies, in all cases whatsoeuer.

Fare you well.

Cicero to Marcello. THE ARGVMENT.

This Epistle was also indited and written▪ to the same end and purpose, that Marcellus night be persuaded to returne to his own •… Countrie.

TO admonishe you, I dare not because of your notable wisdome: nor to incourage you, because of your valiant stomache: and by no meanes to comfort you, because you are not feareful. For if suche be your sufferance and patience, in these your perplexities, as by report I haue receiued, I ought rather for your Which in aduersitie appeareth more glorious. vertue sake, to shewe my selfe ioyful, the •… to serue you wt solace, in your case sad & sorowfull. But if these foule mischéefs, which haue almoste, broken the necke of the Common wealth, so stinge you that you faincte: my witt •… is not so fruitful, nor my penne so spéedy, to raise you vp againe with swéete consolations, sithence to be mine owne physician in semblable maladies, I haue none abilitie. 〈◊〉 remaineth therfore, that I shewe and trie my selfe the man whom I am taken to be, & y• my assistance be so present in althings, whiche either you or yours shal desire, that bothe you & they may conceiue this opinion of mée, that I am yours, not 〈◊〉 , for you, to do what I can, but to presume somewhat further beyonde the boundes of mine owne seruice and power. Note this artificial form of admonitiō, to the end hee might au •… yde all offence on his own part. Yet notwithstanding, be you in this point resolued, that that wherein I haue giuen you aduertisement, or discouered myne owne priuate iudgement, had issue from a heartie good will, whereof to shewe a signification. I was constrained to vse no longer silence: wishing that you would doe as I doe, namely, sticke stedfastly in this persuasion, that if there be any common wealth at all, you ought of duetie to bée there resident (by the consent and voyce of all men) a reall Prince in actuall gouernement, in necessitie giuing place vnto time: But if there be no common wealth, yet for all that, this to be a most méete and conue •… ent roome to harbour the For where there is no cō mon wealth, there is exile and banishment. banished. For if we followe libertie, and forsake seruitude, what place is there in all the world, not subiect to the regiment and power of this Rome the Ladie & Empres •… e of the world. citie? But if any other place whatsoeuer, like you for the benefite of libertie, yet ponder thus much more, that no place for such a purpose is more swéete and comfortable, then your priuate dwelling, and peculiar abyding. And beléeue me (Marcellus) This is added, to put Marcellus in hope of the re couering of his former dignitie and reputation. he in whose dominion and possession, all things are lodged, is not gone so farre beyond all humanitie, but that he fauoureth and furthereth worthy wittes: and as for the nobilitie, and honour due to men for their merites, no man therof hath more consideration: sithence to the vttermost of his abilitie, he procureth, and according to the state of the cause, laboureth, that such things should be recompenced with great estimation. But I haue let my pen run at randon more then I was purposed. I drawe backward therfore, to that one point of consolation, that with yours, if in déede they be The. 11. Epistle of the. 4. booke declareth the meaning of this place. yours, I will continue yours: if not, yet will I neuerthelesse, at al assaies so stand your approued friende, that all duties incident and payable to our vn •… eigned loue and auncient acquaintaunce, shall exquisitely and throughly be discharged.

Fare you well.

Cicero to M. Marcello. THE ARGVMENT.

He dealeth with him by order of persuasion to returne into his own countrie, and draweth his reasons from sundrie circumstances verie artificially: which reasons of his, are verie forceable to make him yeald to the foresaide matter in question.

ALthough I gaue to Quinto Mucio, not many dayes ago, a letter written somewhat at large, to be deliuered to your owne hands, wherein I discouered my iudgement, how you ought to be affected in your owne case, and what for to doe were most conuenient, in my thinking: yet, when Theophilus, your fréeman, was prouiding to take his iourney vnto you, and I sufficiently perceiuing his faithfulnesse, and beneuolence towardes you, would in no wise, let him passe without any letter. Wherefore, I thinking it not impertinent to your present estate, aduertise you nowe as I haue done heretofore, not to neglect your owne commoditie, but to wil and to do your best, in that common welth (howsoeuer it be inclined) to be conuersant, from the which you are now absent. You shal (peraduenture) sée many things which gladly you would not, but yet not more then you do dayly heare. Furthermore, it is not for you to be moued with the sense of the sight only, for so much as you heare the very same things with your eares, which are séene with your eyes, Thes words are opened & made plaine, in the first Epistle. Li. 6. in a marginall note. wherein greater force appeareth to consist. But peraduenture, your feare and suspicion créepeth somewhat further, least you should say somewhat which you meane not, or else doe that whiche you can not like. In these restraintes lift vp your eares to my iudgement. First, To yeelde to time, that is, Epistola. 50. Lib. 21. ad At •… cum. Not to struggle with necessitie, is alwayes counted a point of wisedome. Besides that, The matter is otherwise, as the case nowe standeth. It is not lawful, perhaps, to speake what you thinke: but lawfull (no doubt) to be still and silent: for all thinges are at the commaundement of one, who followeth the counsel and aduise, not of his friendes, but of him selfe: which thing would not come to passe much otherwise, if the raynes of the common wealth were committed and gyuen in charge vnto Meaning Pompeius. him, whose part we haue taken. Thinke we, that he who in time of warre a •… d battell, when he sawe the perill of vs all, lincked and laced to the daunger of hym selfe, woulde not vse the counsell of Scipio, D •… mitius, and di uers other. some men both prudent and politique: that he will in tryumphe and victorie take more vpon him, then he hath, in matters of small affiaunce, lesse assura •… nce, and greater vncertaintie? and that he, who regarded not the benefite of your aduise, being leauened with singular wisedome, when you were in the office and place of an honourable Consul: nor allowed the counsell of your brother, bearing the office of the Consulship, by your authoritie: that he will now, hauing al things in his subiection and possession, desire our opinions? Omnia sunt misera in bellis ciuilibus: In ciuil commotions all thinges are miserable: which to be true, our auncestours haue, not seldome times fealt: but By reason of Sylla and his complices. this our present age also, hath oftentimes tasted: and nothing is more miserable, then the victorie it selfe: which, although it fall to the lot of the better, yet it maketh them the more f •… erce, and violent: that, notwithstanding they be not so inclined by nature, yet to be such they are constrained by necessitie. He excuseth Caesar. For the Uictor or Conquerour, must doe many thinges to the expectation and contentment of them, by whose helpe he obteined the victorie, yea against his owne will. Did not you as well as I, sée what crueltie was like to insue that victorie? and woulde you for all that, euen then, be destitute of the companie of your countrie, least your eyes should (peraduenture) beholde those thinges, which your will •… an in no wise be wonne vnto? No, you will say: for I my selfe woulde defende myne owne interest, and kéepe my •… ignitie and worthinesse vnblemished. But it is a speciall point of your vertue and puisaunce, to reckon your owne state among things of least estimation, and to be touched with a more vehement care of the common wealthes preseruation. Finally, what is y• end of your determinatiō and meaning? for as yet your deede is commended: and your In that he li ued 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and safetie. state also, as the case standeth, is not dispraised: your déede, bicause you did followe the beginning of Battell necessarily, and yet did reuoke your selfe from cōtinuing to the end, not vnaduisedly: your state, bicause you possesse peace & quietnesse, and suffer no defection of your renoune, nor ecclipse of dignitie. And now ought no place to sauour more sweetly in your nose, then your natural contrie: neither is it your part to empaire & cut short your loue towards it, bicause it is growen out of fauor and is waxen deformed, but rather to be touched with the greater compassion, and to pitie her present perplexities: besides that to gratifie and recreate her, hedged in with heauines, and not to absent your selfe, because you woulde not sée her in this miserie: for shée is depriued of As Pompeius, Cato, Domitius, Scipio, Bibulus, Lentulus, Appius, al which were Cosuls: except Cato, who was Praetor. many Noble men, and excellent personages, so that the want of you also doth agrauate her griefe, For end, if it was the poynt of a stoute and manful minde, not as suppliant to yelde to the Conquerour, take héede, that it be not the part of a proude and hautie hart to contemne and set light by his liberalitie: and if it be the point of a wise man, to be lo •… h to lacke the libertie of his lande, surely it is the part of a flintie fellowe and a hard head, not to be in loue with such a benefit •… : and if you can not inioy the common wealth, yet thinke that it is double follie to neglect priuate profite. The summe of all, is this: if the life whiche at this time you leade, liketh you so well, that you doe so loue it, as that you are loth to leaue it, & that it is more cōuen •… ent & fit for you, then otherwise: Wherevpon not to thinke, is the pointe not of a wiseman. yet let your cogitations and studies be conuersaunt herein, that it is lesse s •… fe and more daungerous. Great is the lawlesse laying on of the sword and warlike weapon: but in foreigne places is more impudence to offende, and lesse shamefastnesse and honestie to doe violence. So déere and precious is your safetie and life vnto me, that I am equally matched with your brother Marcellus, or at least, to tell the trueth, as neare to him as may be. It is your part to haue regard of To thinke •… at all things are in the power of Caesar. these tumultuous times, to cast an eye towardes your owne health, and finally of your life and landes to haue good consideration.

Fare you well.

Marcellus to Cicero. ¶ THE ARGVMENT.

He signifieth of his returne into his countrie, being throughly moued with the counsell and countenance of Cicero.

WEll may you thinke, that your Som may do more with vs by coūtenāce and authoritie then our brother or kinseman by lou •… and counsell. countenance and authoritie preuailed muche with me, as well in all matters, as principally & chiefly in this. When as C. Marcellus my brother, whose loue and goodwil towards me, was excéeding great, did not only giue me coūsel, but besought me with earnest letters: he could not winne me to subscribe to his desire, nor perceiue me persuaded in that point, before that your letters had made a gap and entraunce vnto me, the rather to vse the soundnesse of your counsell▪ Concerning his returne graunted of Caesar. Howe the matter goeth, and what hath béene done in my behalfe, your letters giue sufficient knowledge. Your reioycing for my sake, although I could not but best allow thereof, bycause it springeth from the cleare fountaine of a well disposed mynde: yet is it so much the more swéete, pleasaunt, and acceptable, as I haue growne to the vnderstanding of this, that in my great want of well willers, scarsitie of friendes, and olde acquaintance, who tender my person and possessions, sincerely, you haue shewed your selfe most desireous of my safegarde, and not squemish or deintie of your singular beneuolence. As for other things, I make such account of them, as I might well be without them, and with a good will lacke them, except the times and dayes were not as they are: But this benefite of friendship, I hold in such value and estimation, that I am ful ly persuaded, No man is able to liue eyther in sower aduersitie or in swete prosperitie, if good men be coy of their counsell, and friendes spa •… ing of their comfort: in the consideration where of my heart reioy •… eth. And that you may likewise vnderstand, that you haue beene 〈◊〉 to a man not vnthankfull, I will doe what I can to requite your courtesie.

Fare you well.

Sulpicius to Cicero. THE ARGVMENT.

Hee declareth certaine circumstances touching Marcellus, who was slaine of Magius, and signifieth his seruices of humanitie towardes the deade body exhibited.

ALthough I am assured, that the newes which I bring can not be very pleasaunt in your hearing, nor delectable in your conceiuing: yet notwithstanding, bycause Chaunce and Nature haue power and rule in good men, I thought it requisite and necessarie (howsoeuer the case standeth) to giue you intelligence. Upon the tenth of the Calendes of Iune, when I had sailed from Epidaurus, to Piraeus, there I founde Marcellus In the Consulship. our fellow in office, with whom I had communication and conference, and bestowed al that day in his companie. The next day following, when I was departing and taking my leaue of him, of intent & purpose to go frō Athens into Boeotia, and so to passe through the residue of my For Sulpicius was L. President ouer Achaia. iurisdiction: he, as I was in formed by his owne mouth, was preparing passage by ship aboue Malea towarde Italie. The next day after, when I was determined to iourney from Athens, about ten of the clock at night, Posthumius, a familiar friend to Marcellus, came vnto me, and tolde me heauie tydings: namely, that M. Marcellus our fellow in office, after supper time, was sore smit •… ē of P. Magius Chilo, one of his acqaintance, with a dagger, and that he had two woundes, the one in his stomach, the other in his head, hard by one of his eares: and yet notwithstanding, that there was some hope of possibilitie to liue. And that Ad Atticum •… pist. 10. li. 13. Magius also herevpon murthered him selfe: which tragicall chaunces moued Marcellus, being towardes his ende, to sende vnto me, that I might haue vnderstanding what had happened, with request in like manner, that I would procure him a Surgeon. I prouided one, and without •… urther procra •… ination and delay, we went to Marcellus early in the morning, so soone as the day starre appeared. And being not farre from Piraeus, Acidmus seruant met me with certain letters and writings, wherin was noted, that Marcellus a litle before day, was departed. Thus a noble & an honorble man was murthered by the handes of a varlot & a villanous beast: It was his hard lucke & curssed chaunce, whome his enimies, for his worthynesse and vertues sake, greatly spared, to finde a friende, whose daggers dinte wrought his dolefull death. Howbeit I stayed not my self vpon this certificate, but forward went I to his pauilion or tent, and comming thether, I found two of his frée mē, and also of his seruaunts a fews. The rest ran away for feare, as they sayde, Bycause it was death to those seruants in that they defended not their master and Lord. bycause their Lorde and Maister was slaine before his owne tent. I was constrained to lay him in mine owne horse li •… tire, wherein I my selfe came ryding, and caused him to be carried back againe into the citie, where I procured as much pompe and solemnitie at his funerall, as I was able to make at Athens. I could (by no meanes) obtaine thus much of the Atheniens, that he might be interred within the walles of the citie: for to their denyall they added a reason, bycause the state of their religion was an At Rome also the same was forbiddē. impediment in that case, and would graunt no tolleration: & that it neuer was permitted to any man, time out of mind. But yet thus much curtesi •… did they shew, y• in what famous place of exercise soeuer we wold, his interrement shuld not be withstoode nor hindered, vpon which permission we presumed, and chose out y• Where Plato sometime flourished. Academie, where we burned y• corpes to ashes, and after that found suche fauour at the handes of the Atheniens, that they repined not at expences, but erected in the self same place, a tumbe or monumēt of Marble stone, in his sempiternall remembrance. So discharged we all the duties which we might, to him whom fellowship in office, & friendship in course of life, made déere vnto vs, both whiles he was liuing, & also when he was dead.

Fare you well. Dated at Athens, the day before the Calends of Iune.

Cicero to his wife Terentia. THE ARGVMENT.

He sheweth what was the cause of his troubles, and how he was disbutthened: and sayth somwhat touching his nauigation or voyage to Pompeius.

I This letter was written at what time L •… tulus and Mar cellus were Consuls. Am disburthened and eased of many cares and troubles, which made you a wofull woman, as I vnderstoode, and I was very sorie for the same. And what was the cause of my heauinesse, I perceiued the next day after that I departed from you. At night I cast vp much ch •… ler, after the eiection whereof, I felt such a refection, that one God or other seemed as a Physician, to haue ministred some wholsome & seasonable medicine to me their poore patient, to which God (as you are accustomed) make some satisfaction, not superstitiously, but religiously, I meane, to Apollo & Aesculapius. I hope we haue a sound & a swift He meaneth the ship wherin he made his voyage to Pō •… eius. ship to sayle in, & to make spéedy passage, into which so soone as I was entered, I tooke penne and ynke and indited this letter: hereafter I purpose to write many Epistles to our familiar friendes, and olde acquaintaunce: wherein I will make oft mention of you, wife Terentia, and of our daughter Tulliola, with no lesse diligence, then kyndnesse commending you vnto them, (I trust) for your commoditie. I would counsell you to be couragious and stoute hearted, but that I knowe your valiauntnesse and magnanimitie to be such, as no mans therwith may be counted comparable. And yet suche to be the state of many matters, I mistrust not, that both you may continue where you are, now very commodiously: and that I shall hereafter fight for the safetie of the weale publique and others with me of the same fellowship, right puisauntly. It is my will and desire, that you regard your owne health: and if it like you, you may remoue your housholde to such townes as be furthest from those, where souldiers be incamped. Arpinas grounde will serue your turne very well, if victuals waxe deare and scant. Cicero hath him most heartily commended vnto you.

Fare well a thousand times. Dated the. 7. of the Ides of Iune.

Cicero to his wife Terentia, Tulliola his daughter, and Cicero his sonne. THE ARGVMENT.

This letter is not onely lamentably indited, but also faintingly inuented. The argument and meaning thereof is manifolde, and consisteth of variable circumstaunces, bycause he maketh answere to sundrie pointes and articles conteined in the letters of his wife Terentia.

I Confesse I may write more ofte then I doe, although I* This was written, when Piso, and Gabinius were Consuls. spare my pen, and write in suche s •… rt as if I had little leasure: and what reason moueth me to sende you letters so seldome, I suppose you can not be ignoraunt: bycause that, as all times are vnto me miserable, and still replenished with recourse of fresh calamities: so when I addresse my style vnto you, or when I peruse the epistles sent from you vnto me, I fall into such seas of anguishe, that the very teares trickle downe my chéekes: yea, in such sort do I sighe and lament, that I can indure no longer, to suffer further torment. I would I had béene lesse longing after life, and more groning after the gra •… e: then (vndoutedly) had we not séene such mischiefs, nor béene subiect to such tempestes of troubles. Howbeit, if •… ortune haue reserued vs to any hope and confidence of future profite and commoditie, hereafter to be gathered, then are we so much the 〈◊〉 deceiued. But if these stormes be continuall, and so vnchaungeable, that no calme is like to f •… llow: then I woulde I might looke you in the face, (my life and my ioy) and I would I might dye within the comfortable claspings of your imbracing armes: sithence, neyther the Gods eternall, whome you haue worshipped with sinceritie and perfect deuotion, are pi •… rced with pitie to consider our desarts: nor yet men, whose safetie I neuer refused to procure, are moued with consideration to recompence our merites. We were at Brundisium with M. Lenius Flaccus, the space of xiij. dayes, a very good man and a friendly, and such a one, as for my sake, put his owne life, landes, and goodes, in desperate hazarde: not fearing the penaltie of a The lawe of Clodius, whiche commaū ded that none should bee so hardy & bold, as to receiue Cicero neare their house, within the cō passe of foure myles. &c. most iniurious lawe, in such seruile sort, that it should be an impediment, whereby to restraine him from exhibiting dueties of humanitie to his friende, and courteous intertainment to such whome he fauoured. I woulde we were once able to make him amendes: we thanke him dayly, but that is no sufficient acquittaunce. We passed from Brundisium the fifth of the Calendes of Maie, and so tooke our voyage to Cyzicus by Macedonia. O miserable man, O tormented traueller: what shoulde I desire of you, poore woman, wasted in bodie, and consumed in mynde: to come and visite me? may I not desire so much? may I not see you? then, alas, muste I lacke you? nowe sure so I thinke: Then must I doe as I may. If there be any hope of our returne, doe what you can to confirme and to further it. But if there be none, as I suspect and feare, then are we vndone, and past hope of good spéede. Howbeit, doe what you can to come to me, and then be sure of this, that if I haue your companie, I wyll not thinke my selfe in despaire and past recouerie. But for our daughter Tulliola, what order shall we take? I referre that to your discretion: for I can in that case giue no counsell. Neuerthelesse, howe so euer the case standeth, regarde must be had, that her miserie be mitigated, her marriage not neglected, and her good name and fame well mainteined. And what shall Cicero my sonne doe? I am content that he lodge in my bosome, and be alwayes present within the compasse of myne imbracing body. More then I haue alreadie written, I can not comprehende: heauinesse hindereth, sorrowe will not suffer, care intercepteth, present griefe in no wise permitteth. Howe it fareth with you, I wote not, whether you possesse something, or (whereof I am sore afraide) whether you are spoyled and turned out of all things. I trauell in confidence, that Piso, as you write, will continue our friende and fauourer. Touching suche of our familie, whome I haue made frée and set at libertie, there remayneth no matter wherewith you should be moued. As for those which abide with you, your promise was, that your dealing shoulde measure their deseruing. Orpheus remayneth still in seruice, and persisteth in his dutie: the rest are not so officious and attendaunt. The condition of the other seruaunts is such, that if wée bée quite dispossessed, they inioy fréedome and libertie, if they may obtaine it If by the meanes and procurement of Clodius they were not withstoode. without contradiction or deniall. And if wée bée not disherited, but kéepe our owne without diminution or empayring, that their seruice be at our cōmandement, a very few excepted. Howbeit, these are to be thought things of lesse weight, and tending to small purpose. Whereas you exhort me, to haue a good heart, and such a mynde, as the foggie and moyst mystes of miseries, may not infect and putrifie: and moreouer minister hope and confidence of restitution to my former worshippe and dignitie, with recouering of my sore shaken safetie: I wishe with all my heart, suche to bée the hope whiche you exhibite, that in hoping, I may not, as one vnhappie, hope amisse. Nowe, for my selfe (miserable man) when shall I receiue any letters from you? what messinger shall conuey them hether, and deliuer them to my hand? I had looked for them at Brundisium, but that the mariners woulde needes away, as loth to bée hindered by any tyde or tempest. It remaineth (my Terentia) that you mainteine your self, as you are not vnable. Honest hath ben our former life, and our dayes alreadie spent haue flourished in prosperitie: our offence hath not put vs to this trouble and vexation, but our vertue is the cause of this our sharpe affliction. There is nothing amisse, An argumēt of a minde ful of perturbations and troublesome cogitations. but that wée lost not lyfe and all, with the rest of the ornamentes of our renowne. But if the lengthening of lyfe, in consideration of our posteritie and ofspring, bée supposed more acceptable, then with the depriuation of honour, to suffer deathes incontroulable assault, and so to putrifie in the graue: then are we not discontent, but yéelde very gladly, to abide other bitter bruntes and shrewde skyrmishes of aduersitie: albeit in 〈◊〉 , they are importable and not to bée suffered. I sent Clodius Philetraeus backe agayne, bycause his eyes were diseased.

Sallustius with his dutifulnesse is a friend to hope. Cennius is a great fauourer of vs, and such a one in déede, in whom I sée such confidence of heartie goodwill remayning, that I am persuaded he will neuer fayle you, if he may further you. Sia sayd he would sée me, but he is gone from Brundisium. Be careful of your owne health, and let this thought be alwayes resident in your mind. An argumēt of his loue to wards his wife Terentia. That I suffer not such smarting torments in consideration of mine own calamitie: as I fele dead ly pangs in respect of your miserie. Terentia, my most faithfull, trustie, and louing wife: Tulliola, my most déere and best beloued daughter: Cicero, the surplusage of my hope, and pledge of all my ioy:

Fare you well. The day before the Calends of May. From Brundisium.

Cicero to Caesar. ¶ THE ARGVMENT.

He commendeth Apollonius, sometime seruant to P. Crassus, to win him creadit with Caesar, then incamped in Spaine, and armed against the confederates of Pompeius.

MY loue and liking of This Crassus was slaine of the Parthians, with his father M. Crassus. P. Crassus, a young man of excéeding noblenesse, hath béen no lesse faithful then feruent: in whome, whiles he was but in the floure of his age, I reposed such hope as kindled my comfort: and beganne also to conceiue of him as well as heart could thinke, vpon sundrie circumstances which offered them selues to my iudgement. With this Crassus sometime was Apollonius in seruice, of whome, whiles his maister liued, I made great account, and might in no wise disallow of his doings: for he was very circumspect & studious in his masters businesse, & a mā maruellous moete to serue his turne at al assayes: for y• which cause Crassus loued him accordingly. And now, since y• d •… th of Crassus, this mā, by occasion, being moued to my remembraunce, séemeth to me not vnworthy of fauour, & to deserue y• inheritāce of a •… rend, bicause his opiniō was alway occupied in this point, y• to such whom he loued, he would exhibite reuerence: & dutie without dissimulation, to such as him wel liked. This Appolonius comming ouer vnto me at Cilicia, did affoorde me such seruice, that in many thinges I might not misse the necessarie vse of his assisting hande, nor be destitute of his wisedome, counsel and prouidence: and the self same man, as I thinke, withdrew not his will or might from you, at suche time as it was welcome, aduenturing to compasse as muche as his abilitie coulde permit, in the Alexandrine battell. Whiche seruice of his, ministring this hope vnto his heart, that your opinion concerning his person, and behauiour, would be no lesse commendable then oures▪ he determined with him selfe, to prepare direct passage * vnto you principally into Spaine, to the attempting also of which voyage, myne aduise was not wanting, for his further incouragement. To whome I would not haue applyed so plausible a style, in depainting out his praise, but that I was persuaded, that with you it shoulde loose none authoritie: Howbeit, I prayse him not, to this purpose, as though he had not deseru •… d commendation, sithence you can not be ignoraunt, that he was a seruitour vnder you in time of warre, when his merites were manifest: and one at your commaundement, as you knowe, if you call Crassus to For Crassus was Embassadour to Fraū ce at the appointment of Caesar. memorie. And if he were disposed to craue commendation, and were addicted to heare the trumpe of mens tongues sounde his prayse, I perceiue whole multitudes applyaunt in that behalfe. As for the testimonie of myne owne priuate iudgement, whereof he accounted, not slenderly, and which I am assured of, shal preuaile thoroughly, I haue most willingly declared. I dare verifie, that the man is learned, and that he hath desired and de lighted in the best exercises of studie, which good inclination hath not sprong in him of late, but growne in him of long con tinuance, euer since he was a boy. For he lodged in my house, with Diodotus the Stoicall Philosopher, a man (in my iudgement,) very profound, and déepely experimented in matters of naturall secrecie, and other pointes of wisedome and grauitie: with whome hee did kéepe companie, not for a fashion, but of a will, to waxe learned, and expert in that whereof he was ignoraunt: and being nowe inflamed with the admiration of your martiall exploites, and other serious affaires, is very desireous, to reduce them in a Chronicle, and to write them in the Gréeke tong, as a monument of your im mortall memorie. I doubt not but he is able to comprehend as much as he pretendeth, and that he can bring his enterprise, in that case, to perfection. He lacketh no learning: he lackes not experience: it is not long, since he was conuersant in the like kinde of knowledge and practise: very earnest is he, to satisfie the eternitie of your puisance, and by his pen to decypher your praises in perpetuall recordes: Now haue you a witnesse and testimonial of mine opinion touching Appollonius: of whom, I trust, you will according to the singularitie of your discretion, conceiue certaine iudgement: and therafter giue him a taste of your courtesie: And yet againe, I commend him vnto you, whereof I made a former denial, protesting, that in what respect soeuer it shall please you to be his fauourer and furtherer, I my self shal account it worthy double acceptation.

Fare you well.

Cicero to Caesar. THE ARGVMENT.

He commendeth a yong man named Praeciliu •… , whose father was a verie great friend to Caesar.

I Am bound of humilitie, to cōmend vnto you soly and alone, the sonne of Note the causes from whence this commendation is deriued. your very friend, my familiar companion: the sonne (I say) of an excellent man, and one to whome (for his modestie, and ciuil behauiour) I beare speciall affection, and can not but recompence him with the like proportion of goodwill, as he sheweth and performeth towardes me. Besides that, by sundry instructions of trial, and infallible experience, I vnderstande, and therefore the more boldly affirme, that his father was a singular friend vnto me. This same is he▪ which sometime derided me, and other whiles rebuked me, bycause I was not conformable (being so honourably inuited of y •… ur own person) to ioyne with you, as your adherent.Hom. Od. 〈◊〉 60.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Yet, though he sought to proue me, His counsel could not moue me.

For I heard our Nobles and Péeres making this exclamation and saying:Hom. Od. A. •… & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . 21. & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . 209.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Be stout and strong, with valliant hart In Martiall field shewe what thou art, That thy successours may thee praise, As duskish cloudes do darken dayes.

Yea, they stay not there, but goe about to set me all in a light flame, notwithstanding I was kindled before, and thus they talke vnto me:

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 〈◊〉 . 241. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 If die thou doest, then die not like a clowne: But with thine end, ioyne glorie and renowne: Attempt some worthie act, and noble deede: Thy fame then shal they sound that thee succeede.

But these persuasions are of small force to moue me, as you may perceiue: wherefore, leauing the loftie and vaunting style of Homer, I will frame my selfe to the perfourmaunce of Euripides his true and vndoubted precepts.

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 I can not like that prudent man,This vearse cited by Cicero, is not to bee founde in Euripides. Which for him selfe no wisedome can.

Which verse of the Poet, that good olde father Praecilius notably commendeth, and sayth, that such a one doth sée, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , behind and before, meaning that, as he is not ignorant of things past, so of things present and to come, he is not vnskilfull: and such a one sayth he:

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Il. 2. 57. & A. 27. May counted be right excellent, In vniuersall gouernement.

But to leaue my digression, and to occupie my pen in that which I first attempted: you shall shewe vnto me, a principall point of courtesie, and discouer your beneuolence aboundantly towardes me, if your humanitie and gentle inclination, which is s •… ngular, may be exhibited to this youngman, of whom I haue made mention: and that it shal further please you, to performe the summe of my suite, and by your meanes to aduaunce him to the scope of my commendation: which (I hope) you will no lesse accomplish, for the further dignitie of the race of the Praecillians: then I haue béene appliaunt to instill this supplication into your remēbrance, that they meritoriously may reape the benefite of your gratious fauour. Thus haue I vsed a Because of the interlaceing of greeke Poem •… s. new and straūge forme of writing, and discrepant from my vsuall methode of inditing letters, to the intent that you might the better vnderstand, howe these my words, haue not discoursed vpon a vulgar and common kynd of commendation.

Fare you well.

Lentulus to Cicero. ¶ THE ARGVMENT.

He maketh a commemoration of such feates as he had done: accuseth the Rhodians vpon occasion: and addeth a rehearsall of his desartes towardes the common wealth.

After that I had some companie, and a litle conferrence, with our friende Brutus, and perceiued apparantly, that in his comming to Asia, there was more delay then maturitie and spéede: I addressed my returne backe againe into Asia, that I might gath •… r vp the gleanings of my labours, and sende money to Rome, as soone as possibly I might: In the meane season I came to knowledge of Dolabelaes 〈◊〉 in Lycia, being in number aboue a hundred ships, prepared fo •… the readie assista •… nce of his armi •… : pr •… ided by 〈◊〉 of purpose, that if he were Cassinius being there resident as goue •… nou •… . 〈◊〉 of the confi •… nce 〈◊〉 he reposed in Syria, he might presently 〈◊〉 shipping and passing with expedition into Itali •… , might ioyne him self with the Anthonies, and fortifie, with his ayde; the rest of those tumultuous villaines. In the feare wherof I trauelling with great thought, and in such great doubt, as I am not disposed to expresse, set all mine owne affaires and matters of importance at cinque and si •… e, and endeuoured myselfe with the companie of fewer and lesser shippes, to saile towards them: which presumption of mine •… ad growne to perfection and ful effect, and by my mean as •… ad quite •… éene dispatched, if the Rhodians had not procured 〈◊〉 •… inderaunce: 〈◊〉 , notwithstanding their impediments, prouided for my •… inderaunce, a great part of them, though not the whole 〈◊〉 , was discomfited, and put to flight. At the cōming of vs not only the souldi •… rs, but also the captaines, and presidentes of the armie, were moued with such amazing of mynde, an •… •… stonishment of heart, that hauing no stomache to enter conflict and skyr •… , betooke them to 〈◊〉 , for their present remedie. As for their shippes of burthen, we tooke them, euery vessell: and nowe haue I obteined The discom fiture of his aduersaries & enimies. that, whiche did not only offer vnto me occasion of doutfulnesse, but troubled me also with much feare, so that the matter being brought to this stay, Dolabe •… la is not able to passe through into Italie with his 〈◊〉 , nor with his partakers and 〈◊〉 , to make you more and harder worke, wherein to 〈◊〉 o •… upied. The Rhodians, howe desperately they behaue themsel •… es, as well towards vs, as also towards the common w •… lth, you may vnderstand by •… y letters which I sent abroad publiquely and openly. And certainly, I was more pinching and sparing in my •… riting concerning them, then I found thē furious, & more like 〈◊〉 , then ruled with aduisement. I woulde net haue you moued with admiration, for that I haue written somewhat shortly. Wonderful is their outrage. As for mine own priuate iniuries, against them I made patience a preseruatiue: their euil disposed minde for the safetie of our •… ide, their gréed •… nesse to For if I might dispatche the •… ollection of all the money whi •… he I am •… o sende vnto Rome, my next request should be for a •… uccessour in my plate. Nowe, that whiche I haue giuen to Cassius, that whiche we haue lost by the death of Tr •… bonius, by the light credite of Dolabella, and •… y the deceitfull dealing of them, whiche: kept not 〈◊〉 . •… ither perfourmed promise vnto me, nor yet to the common wealth, it is my meaning to recouer and obtaine: whiche otherwise can not be accompulished, except▪ I might haue longer space graunted of adiding: and that my request ma •… be subscribed vnto, I desire you, that your 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may •… o a further •… ce. I 〈◊〉 m •… selfe, so well to haue deserued of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , that I ought not to looke after the benefite and commoditie of this Prouince, but to be in as great expe •… tation of recompence, as either Cassius or B •… utus, not onely for the fellowship in When we gaue Caesar his deathes woundes. that fact, and 〈◊〉 taking in that perilous enterprise, but also 〈◊〉 our good 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and for the 〈◊〉 of our 〈◊〉 For, was 〈◊〉 the first that wrought the dissolution and breaking of Anth •… ies lawes? was not I 〈◊〉 first that 〈◊〉 ouer Dolabellaes troupe of horsemen to the common wealth, and deliuered the same to Cassius? was not I the first, that for the safetie of 〈◊〉 , had the aduauntage of choice, for the s •… ppression of that most mi •… chiefous and detestable 〈◊〉 ? It 〈◊〉 I, and 〈◊〉 but I▪ that succoured Cassiu •… with souldiers, and ioyned Syria to the common wealth. For if I had not mainteined Cassius with so much money, & ministred •… uch present helpes & •… o spéedie •… cours as I did h •… had neuer had the 〈◊〉 is •… 〈◊〉 for his hart, to set one •… oote forward into Syria •… And now also no lesse inconueniences were like to grow to the weale publike, by the means of Dolabella, then there did (s •… mtime) by y• procuremēt of Anthonie. Al which sores I haue 〈◊〉 vp with apt plasters, yea, euen I haue wrought their full perfection, I, (I say) who wa •… both a cōpaniō, & a familiar friend to Dolabella, & a néere kinsman to Anthonie▪ by Bicause they laboured to Caesar in Len •… ulus behalfe, and obteined their suite. whose mediation & ▪ procurement, this prouince fell to my charge & authoritie. But 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 . Louing my natiue coūtrie with more tendernesse, I was at defiance with all my friendes, and haue denounced battell against mine affinitie. And although I perceiue, the profites which hereby I haue gotten to be but small, in comparison: yet am I not in doubt or despaire, neyther in lothsomnesse of labour, as ouerwearied and cloyed with such a busie charge, but am as ready and as venturous as euer I was, not only in the loue of libertie, but also in tempestes of dangers. Howbeit, if by the procurement of the Senate, and of each other notable personage, we may attaine some due and deserued honour: oure authoritie shall be inlarged with the rest, and our abilitie to profite the common wealth shal be increased. I could not sée your sonne, when I came to Brutus, bycause he was remoued and gone to kéepe his winter, with a troupe of horsemen. But that he is so affected towards the weale publique, both for your sake, and his owne, and principally for mine, I haue cause to reioyce: for he is to me in stead of a brother, as your true sonne, and worthy of such a father.

Fare you well. Dated the. iiij. of the Calends of Iune. At Perga.

Cicero to Lucceio. THE ARGVMENT.

Hee desireth Lucceius the Historiographer, to make a seuerall volume of his owne exploits, martiall feates, and deedes that he had done: which worke might seeme of more worthinesse.

PUrposing and attempting, at what time I was in your companie, to conferre about the same matter whereof I write at this present, and perceiuing my selfe restrained and still drawne backe with somewhat a rusticall kynd of shamefastnesse: I haue nowe declared all, being absent, and therefore supported with the more boldnesse: for letters doe not blus •… . I am inflamed with an incredible desire, not (as I take it) deseruing reprehension, to haue our name made famous by your pen, and with your workes to win euerlasting worthynesse. Which thing, although you tell me often, that you intended to accomplishe and fulfill: yet I pray you dispence with my much haste, and suppose my spéedinesse in this point pardonable. For your order and style of writing, notwithstanding it was alwayes of me maruellous vehemently and earnestly desiered: yet hath itA commendation, for the getting of goodwill. quite ouercome myne opinion, & hath set me in such a fire, y• I couet & craue with all celeritie & spéede, our deedes & aduentures to be registred in your immortal monunients. For, not only the cōmemoration & rehearsal of succession, haleth me into a certaine hope of perpetual renoune, but also y• earnest desire wherewith I féele my self al kindled: y• we may inioy whiles we be aliue, to our full expectation, either the absolute authoritie & credite of your testimonie, or else the signification of your beneuolence, or els the swéetnesse and pleasantnesse of your flourishing inuention & excellent wit. Neyther was I ignorant, at what time I was writing these circumstaunces, with what heauie burthens (of suche thinges, I meane, as I had taken in hande, and prsuatly determined) I was pressed. But bycause I did sée, and also vnderstande, that the Historie of theOf the war called bellum sociale: when they whiche were in countenāce, taking in despight that thei were thrust out of the citie, toke vp weapon & armour. Italian warre, and the ciuil commotion, by you was almost finished, and that your penne had painted many leaues of paper, in the description of those tumultes and insurrections: and for that you your selfe, reported vnto me, that you would begin to declare suche matters as remained: I woulde in no wise hinder my solfe, but gaue you warning of my will, that you might deliberate and take aduisement, whether you thought it more conuenient to ioyne such cases and discourses as concerned vs, with the residue that by your industrie is already compassed: or (as many of the Greeke writers haue done, as for example, Calisthenēs vpon the Troian battel, Tymeus of King Pyrrhus, Polybius of the Numantine war, al which, haue diuided those foughten fieldes and fierce conflictes, from the bodies of their continued Histories) seperate thatMening the coniuration of Catiline. ciuil conspiracie. from those battels and incounters had with our forreigne enimies. It is not muche auailable for our cōmendation: yet for the making of the more haste, it is much material, to touch me & my doings (I meane,) wherin I would haue you to cut off al expectation of circumstaunces touching place, and foorthwith giue onset to the very cause, and the time. And if your mynde be occupied inOf the ciuil cōmotion on ly, & of no mā but me alone, by whom the rage of that sedition was both assuaged & suppressed. one argumēt, & in one person, I perceiue already, with what plentie of matter, beautie of words, & swéetnesse of style, all things are like to be accomplished. I am not ignorant, how greatly these my speaches smell of shamelesnesse, first in laying vpon your shoulders a burthē of such weight (for your priuate businesse may be a meanes of flat denial) & secondly, in desiering you so to adorne & aduaunce me, yt among al men I may become famous. What if al yt I haue done séeme vnto you, not méete to be so popularly praysed? yet remember, that He which once runneth once out of the rayles of shamefastnesse, may throughly continue impudent. Wherfore my request vnto you, is, that you would vse a more vehemente & patheticall order in this discourse of my déedes, then peraduenture you wyll thinke vpon: and in your description, spare not to set light by theWhich allow nothing disagreable vnto truth. limited lawes of an Historie: And account not that fauour, as a trifle to be contemned, if it shal cōmend me vnto you with the more vehemence, déeme it not I say ridiculous, sithence you haue written thereof in a certaine treatise very swéetly & pleasantly, & declared y• it wrought no lesse affectiō in you, thē pleasure somtime did in Hercules, of whom Xenophon maketh relatiō in his memorables: despise not that fauour & grace: & as for our loue, let it haue such libertie, that it may get more largely then truth iudgeth worthy graūt. And if we may get you to take paines in this matter, it will proue (I am absolutely persuaded) a work worthy of such a writer, wherin his abilitie is made manifest, & a testimonie left of his abundant knowledge. Concerning ye beginning of y• coniuration & tumult, vntill y• time of ourFrom exile or banishmēt he meaneth. returne, a smal volume, as I think, wil serue: wherin you may intermedle, both with the ripping vp of ciuil cōmutations & chaunges, either in the explication of causes which gaue originall to nouelties, or els in y• remedies of inconueniences: & also in reprehending suche things, as you shal iudge prostable, & in matters wherof you haue no misliking, alledge sundry reasons for their further authoritie and comprobation. Besides that, if (as your accustomed order hath beene) you shal thinke it necessarie and requisite, to set things out amply and largely, then can you not doe amisse, if you shall describeHee noteth Pompeius & others, of whō contrarie to faith, honestie and friendship he was betraied, that hee might gratifie Clodius. the false, faithlesse, malicious, and trayterous dealing of many against vs. Moreouer, the sundry chaunces and chaunges, wherevnto I haue béene subiect, will minister vnto you much matter wherein to be conuersant, and sufficient argument wherein to be occupied, all be sprinckled and tempered with a certaine kinde of pleasantnesse, and varietie, whiche may be allurementes to the myndes of men, in reading to vse deliberation, and delayes of delight. For nothing is more meete to recreate the Reader, then the varieties of times, and the alterations of Fortune, which, although in cōsideratiō of experience they are not to be desiered: yet, in respect of perusing and reading, they are to be imbraced. For in the quiet remembrance of sorrowes escaped, consisteth muche pleasure: and to such as in their owne person haue susteined no trouble, but taken a viewe of other mens chaunces without sorrowe, the conceit of pitie breedeth much delectation: For whiche of vs, entring into the consideration of captaine Epaminondas, lying vpon his deathes wound at Mantinea, is not touched with a certaineCompassiō and pitie for his death: delectation and plesure for his puisaunce. Ac •… ilius Probus, Iustine, & Strabo, haue all written of him very nota bly. cōpassion, tempered with swéetenesse? who then commaū ded the speare to be pluckt out of his flesh, when to a question by him propounded, this answere was deliuered, that his target remayned safe, and was not in his enimies possession: that euen in the anguishe of his mortall wound, he ended the course of his yeres, with no lesse contentation, then commendation: and as his death was of him most willingly imbraced, so were his merites perpetually praysed. Whose desire in reding Themistocles flight is not kindled, and in scanning his returne not lightned? For the very order it self of Chronicles, and Histories, haue in them some force to continue a register of my doings, both in peace and warre. But of an excellent man oftentimes, the manifold and variable chaunces moue much admiration, expectation, pleasure, sorrowe, hope, feare, &c.: and if all things be concluded with a notable ende, then is the minde replenished with pleasure of moste sweete and delectable reading, which benefite shall redound much more answerable vnto my desire, if hereof due regarde be taken, that you make a seuerall volume, seperated from your other writings, wherein is comprehended, a perpetuall Historie of many things, if (I say) you diuide this from that, as it were a play, enterlude, or repensentation of our chaunces and aduentures.The reason why he termeth it by the name of Play or Enterlude. For it conteineth sundry actes, practises, shewes, and gestures, as well of our counselles and attemptes, as of our troublesome times, and dayes very combersome. I do not make flatterie, and smoth phrase of speach, the instrument whereby to créepe into your fauour, sithence my meaning is manifest in this, that my will dependeth chiefly vpon the aduancment procéeding from your labours, and the obteining of your report by pen and paper, to make me famous. For you are not the man, that is ignoraunt of his own estate, no more suspecting such to be his aduersaries as haue him not in admiration, then thinking those parasites and clawebackes, which crowne him with commendation.

Neyther am I wide from wit, and voide of iudgement, or rather so madde and phantasticall, to desire his assistaunce for my preferment, to the purchasing of perpetuall honour, who, whiles he is so occupied, winneth not to him self, by the noblenesse of his learning, euerlasting renoune. For that great Alexander was not carried away with a blinde affection, when he would haue none paint out the portraiture of his bodie, but Apelles, and none to make his image in metal, saue Licippus: but reason and iudgement bred that conceit in his minde, bycause he thought, that they being most excellent and incomparable artificers, should not only in the discouerie of their skill make him glorious, but them selues also passing famous. And those forenamed workmen of singular worthinesse, made such persons, by their pictures and sculptures most liuely proportioned, so far frō being strange, that they were well knowne to such as neuer sawe them: which thing, although they had not by cūning compassed: yet should their noblenesse haue béene no whit the more darkned. Neyther is the renoune of that Spartane or Lacedaemonian Agesilaus, of lesse porte and account, for that hée suffered not the lineaments of his body to be drawne in colours, nor the fourme and measure of his members to be made in metall: then the fame and name of those, that were moste desierous both wayes to be popular. For that smal pamphlet of Xenophon, penned in the prayse of the same king, is of such sufficiencie, that it surpasseth all the pictures shadowed with the painters pencill, and all images of the caruer or grauer smothed and fined with his chosen instruments. And surely this shall séeme to me a thing of great excellencie, both to the delectation of my mynde, and also to the remembraunce of my dignitie, if I may be described by your pen, then portraied by their skil, or set out in the volumes of any other whatsoeuer: not only, for that you should in setting me out, giue a note of your rare wit and profound knowledge: as Timaeus did, in the behalfe of Timoleon: and Herodotus for the aduauncement of Themistocles: but bycause you by your authoritie and countenaunce, being a man of great acceptation, and in causes of weight very well knowne to the common wealth, may procure me the more renoune: that I do not only heare that sound of puisance and dexteritie, that blast I say of honor & high worship, which Alexander when he entred into Sigeum, did say that Homer ascribed to Achilles: but that I may possesse and inioy that pension of prayse, which hath issue, not only from the testimonie of a man ofIt is not enough to doe notable feats, but an excellent writer is requisite also to record thē. great knowledge, learning, and grauitie, but also of honour, noblenesse, and authoritie. For Hector, whom the Poet Naeuius introduceth in his poesies, hath a plausible sentence, reioycing aboue measure, not only in that he was praised: but he addeth this clause as a necessarie supplement, bycause he was praysed of a man deseruing prayse. And if so be that, lucke lay a blocke in the way, that my request is in hassarde of hinderance (sithence it is no reason nor conscience, that you shoulde disapoint me in any thing wherein I desire your furtherance) I shal be constrained peraduēture, to attēpt that which many very scornfully and disdainfully doe repr •… hend: namely, I will write of my selfe, and sound the trumpet of mine owne merites: yet in such sort, that I varie not from the president and example of many noble and honorable personages. But to be conuersant in this kinde of style and methode, is (as you knowe)The eauses which put him backe from writing in his cōmendation. a vice: and therfore such as be the registrers & writers of their owne actes, aduentures, and counsels, must of necessitie so temper their pen, that they breake not out of the banckes of modestie, nor shew themselnes, in their doing, shamelesse and impudent: a parcialitie therfore in this point is to be folowed, which honest natures in no wise do neglect: who when they see in them selues occasion of deserued prayse, are so far from amplifying their owne merites, that they vse a sparing methode: and when they perceiue on the other side, iust cause of reprehension, are so farre from séeking their owne blame and rebuke, that they drowne all in the seas of silence. Moreouer, it commeth to passe, that when men write their owne doings, the smaller credite doe they win, the lesse beliefe, the le •… le opinion of desart, small authoritie, and as little admiration: in so much that many make this obiection by way of reprehension, and say, that more modestie remaineth in the mindes of the cr •… ers at common games of actiuitie, who after they haue set crownes of triumphe vpon the heads of the conquerours, and proclamed their names with a loude voice in the hearing of a solemne assembly, and when they of dutie ought semblably to be crowned, before y• breaking •… p of t •… ose pla •… es & departing of the people, to the intent that they s •… uld not seeme to challenge victorie by their owne priuate voices, another cōmeth forth & taketh vpō hin •… the execution of that office▪ These syrts & sands we wish to auoide, & auoide, to our abiliti •… , if you will stand satisfactorie to my request, which y• you wold accomplish to my •… tter 〈◊〉 , we desire & beséech •… ou most earn •… stly▪ And, l •… ast peraduenture, you should muse in your mind, why we are so i •… portune at this present to craue y• of you in such earnest order & multitude of words, which you haue oftentimes promised to fulfil, (I meane y• registring of our •… nmultuous times & daūgerous chaunces, wc circumstaunces not impertinent to that purpose:) I praye you be contented with this answere, that the hote desire of making haste, whereof I made mencion in the front of my letter, setteth me on a fire,Note his vn reasonable arrogancie and proude disposition of mind but followe it not. bycause we are in loue with nothing in the world so much, as that the people of all landes and regions, might, by the immortall monuments of your learned bookes, attaine to the knowledge of vs, by the commemoration of our déedes, whiles we are yet aliue, and that we may taste the swéetenesse and ioy o •… that our litle glory, and yong springing honour, before we be deade. Concerning these matters, I would wishe you to write vnto me, if it be not too painefull and troublesome vnto you, what you are determined to doe. For if you will take it in hande, and mynde no lesse thē you haue oftentimes sayd, then will I gather abbridgements of all such things, as in that case be necessarie: But if you vse procrastination, and driue me off with delayes till another time. I will conferre with you face to face, and let penne and paper lye a sléepe. In the meane while, finishe that whiche you haue begunne: so shall you loue vs.

Fare you well.

Cicero to Lucceio. TH •… ARGVMENT.

He signifieth how auailable the comfortable letter of Lucceiu •… was▪ to assuage the sorrowe and anguishe which tormented him, for the afflicted state of the common wealth.

ALthough the consolation of your letter, coulde not but be acceptable vnto me, for therin is disclosed your great beneuolence and goodwill, lincked with the like prudence and wisedome: yet there was a further commoditi •… then that, whiche likewise I obteined: Namelie, the knowledge o •… your magnanimitie and courage, in the contempt of thinges transitorie, and your armed mynd against variable Fortune: whiche commendation, I iudge to belong to wisedome principally, Not to stay vponany other foundation, neyther by external casualties to fal into dubitation eyther to liue in fe •… icitie, or in miserie. In the considerat •… on whereof I was earnestly conu •… rsant, (Note for our example how many wordes he bringeth to gether to beautifie his Me •… aphore or translation. for it had taken déepe roote and sure ground in my remembraunce) yet not withstanding, the violence of tempes •… ous stormes did so shake it, and the clustering toget •… er of 〈◊〉 did so batter and beate it, that it was much impaired, and in manner 〈◊〉 . Nowe I sée and feele their present ass •… staunce, as well in your former l •… tters, as in this your last E •… istle, which I perceiue to haue wrought effectually. Wherefore, these wordes are often to be repea •… ed, and not only to be tolde with a naked signification, but also to be v •… er ed with a sad declaration, that nothing was more welcome to me, then your letter of comfort. To the ingendering of which passion and inward motion, as wel those circumstaunces, which with no lesse pleasantnesse of style, then with plentie of argumentes, you haue gathered, are auailable: as also the valliantnesse, constancte, and sobernesse of your person, then which nothing can be more beh •… ment and patheticall. Which not to indeuour to follow, is a fault, in my indgement, most foule: and a filthy offence. Wherefore, in this one respect, suppose me more valliaunt, then your selfe the maister of courage: bycause you séeme vnto me to haue some hope and confidence, that these thinges will decline from worsse to better: For these hurlie burlies with •… age of weapons, and those other liklyhoodes: besides that, the reasons in that discourse by you collected, forbad me vtterly to despaire of the common wealth. Wherefore, in that you are valliauntly minded, there is the lesse wonder, for so muche as you liue in expectation: and yet to conceiue any sparckle of hope, it is a thing whereat we may maru •… ll. For what is there that is not so shakē, that it séemeth to run to ruine, and vtterly to come to nought? Marke and beholde en this side, that side, •… nd rounde about, the members of the common wealth, which none knoweth so well as you, ne vnderstandeth with such perfection: and belieue me, you shall not finde so much as one that is not maimed, brused, 〈◊〉 , and much inféebled: which I would prosecute with my pen, and amply describe, if I had a more certaine viewe of them then you haue, or were able to make a commemoration and rehearsall of them without horror and heauinesse: although as you admonishe me, and giue me comfortable counsell, all anguishe is to be reiected. Therefore will we dispose our selues to suffer with out sorrowe, ourHe meaneth (as it may bee thought) the death of his daughter Tul hola. domesticall and priuate misfortunes, and the preposterous chances of the cō mon wealth, with more magnanimitie and constancie of mynde, then you your selfe shall be able, although you giue me prècepts in this respect to imitate. For the consolation wher vpon you stay your selfe, is (as your letter doth signifie) a shadowe of some hope: as for vs, we meane to be stedfast, couragious, and established, yea in verie desperation, when hope is harbourlesse where vnto you, not withstanding, draw vs by your admonitions, and by your preceptes indeuour to persuade vs. For you rip vp the most pleasant and delectable remembrance of ourBicause we haue alwayes thought wel of the common wealth, which remembrance of well doing is not vnpleasant. conscience, and of suche things as we (you being the ring leader and principal author) attempted and performed. For we did no lesse vndoubtedly, in the behalfe of our countrie, then of dutie was demaundable, and might boldly be required: howbeit for all that, more I may say to you, then any mans mynde is vrged to accomplishe. You shall pardon me speaking any thing in myne owne aduauncement. For with the cogitation and consideration of what thinges, you would disburthen vs of heauinesse, by the remembrance and thinking vpon the same seriously, we féele our selues emptied of much pensiuenesse. Wherfore, not to neglect your admonitions, or to accoūt your precepts contēptible, I wil withdraw me selfe from al molestations and perplexities, so far forth as mine abilitie shal giue me leaue: and I will frame my mynde, and addresse my studie vntoMening the studie of Philosophie, wher vnto he applied hym selfe most, after the cōmon welth was so misera bly afflicted. those thinges, where with prosperitie is beautified, and aduersitie mitigated: and with you shall my continuance be so long, as both our age and our health will permit. And although we be hindered from comming together, to inioy bodily presence, and reall companie, yet not withstanding, the coniunction of our mindes, and knitting of both our hearts together, shal be of such efficacie and force, that we will reape such benefite, each of vs by and through the self same studies, that we shal persuade our selues to be so familiar, as if we were neuer a sunder.

Fare you well.

Lucceius to Cicero. THE ARGVMENT.

Hee demaundeth the occasion of Cicero his so long absence from the citie: and giueth him counsell to withdrawe his mynde from sorrowe.

If you are in health, it is well: I am in health, according to my custome, and yet somewhat worsse for all that, then I haue béene wont. I sought about oftentimes to the intent I might see you, & was moued with no smal admiration, that you were not at Rome, after your departing from me: which offereth vnto me, at this instant, no lesse occasion of musing. I knowe not of certaintie, what thing should restraine and kéepe you fromMening tho citic of Rome hence. If solitarinesse and liuing alone be your delectation, when you write, and continue to be none otherwise occupied then you hane béene accustomed: I am glad, and I do not mislike of your meaning: for then this nothing can be more pleasant, not onely in these times both miserable and lamentable, but also at other seasons of quietnesse and tranquilitie: especially, eyther to your ouer wearied heart, which bra •… eth after intermission and rest from busie and great matters▪ or your learned and prudent mynde, which freely deliuereth some thing, at all times, which vnto other appeare •… h delectable, and maketh your owne person honourable. But on the contrarie part, if you lye grouing in gricfe, and lament with teares as a prisoner to pensiuenesse, whiche fashion you vsed when you were here abiding: I am sorie, bicause you are grieued, and I can not reioyce except you were merrie. Yet I cannot but accuse your effeminacie and womanlike disposition, if you giue vs leaue frankly to vtter what we thinke. Will not you; hauing so eleare and sharpe a sight in the contemplation of thinges hid and secret, view & beholde that which is sensible and manifest? will you knowe this, that you consume and waste your selfe with continuall complaints, and all to no purpose▪ will you not vnderstand that your sorrowes are doubled, which your wisedome requireth to haue somewhat assuaged? And if by persuading we preuaile not, but sée our labour lost, we be take vs to praying, and vse wayes of intreatance, beséeching you, that if you wil do any thing in the world for our sake, shake off this yoke of anguishe, cast away sorrowe, and returne, either to liue with vs among all your acquaintance,Either liue among vs, as you wer wont or at least liue merily alone. in our common conuersation: or else in solitarinesse to your priuate contentation. My desire is not to dull you, if I can not delight you: but I woulde gladly driue you from your purpose, least therein you continue: for so much as these two contrarie effects torment me mightily: in the one of which, I wish, that of you my wil be regarded, or else in the other that you be not offended.

Fare you well.

Cicero to Lucceio. THE ARGVMENT.

He answereth to Lucceius demasiding the cause of his absence from Rome, and she weth sundrie reasons why he is so grieued, and why he is loth to leade his life in the citie.

ALl your loue is a •… arant and manifest vnto me by your last letters which you sent me, and neuer a part or parcel thereof left vnoiscouered: which as vnto me it is not strange and vnknowne, so it is swéete and acceptable, I should say pleasaunt and delectable, but that I may neuer recouer that worde againe, sithence I haue lost it for euer;Not somuch for the losse of the cōmon wealth, as eyther for the slaughter and death of his friendes, or els for their absence in forreigne places, for some became hard har ted that they might not returne into their countrie which was quite spoiled of libertie. not for that one occasion which you haue in suspicion, and coniecture, and wherin, (though your wordes be mylde, gentle, friendly, and fauourable,) yet in deede you accuse me sharply: but rather, bycause those remedies whiche ought to heale my launced fleshe, and to drawe a skinne ouer my wound, are to be counted no remedies. For what shall I say? should I flée for, succour to my friends? howe many be there of them? we haue had of them, almost in euery corner: but now some are dead, othersome are fledde, and so hardened, I know not by what meanes, that they care not for their conntrie. Faine would I leade my life with you, it is the thing which I chiefly desire: olde acquaintaunce, vnfeined loue, hartie goodwill, semblable behauiour, & equalitie in studies will haue it so. What thing is wanting in our friendship? may wée liue together? I know no cause certainly that should be the impediment: But vndoubtedly hetherto wée haue bene in sunder, though wee were neighbours in Tusculano, and Puteolano. For what should I say? can wee be together in the citie? where, for so much as place of plea is common, fellowship is not required: But this our age, I wot not by what e •… ill chaunce, is fallen into such stormie & tempestuous times, that when w •… ought most of all to haue •… ourished, euen th •… , a •… as, to be aliue, wée were throughly •… amed. For 〈◊〉 •… uge might re •… ine to mée, after I 〈◊〉 stript naked of all mine ornamentsThe death of his daughter moueth him to write in this complayning order. and pleasures both priuate and 〈◊〉 ▪ onely y• letter •… and epistles which passed daily too and fro my hands: for what els (alas) 〈◊〉 I do? And yet they, wherin I thought my comfort to haue consisted, I canot tel how 〈◊〉 after what sort▪ 〈◊〉 now to shut mée out of the castle of consolation, and as it were bitterlyBecause as they hate filthy thinges & vndecent: so they esteeme seruitude most vil •… . vpp •… aide me, because I cōtinue in that life; in the which there is nothing else to be hoped for, but a pitilesse prolonging of a time most miserable. And you meruaile not a litle, as you say, in that I absent mée selfe from that citie, wherein mine owne house doeth not delight mée, wherin I haue the state of thefe times in great detestation, persons and places in contempt, court and counsell in no coūtenance: finally, what do I not abhore? Wherefore, my vse of letters is such, wherin I impart euery portion of time, not that th •… y are a perpetuall plaster vnto mée to salue vpp mine incurable sores, but that by them I obtaine a litle forgetfulnes of my sorrowes. And if it had béene ours gratious fortune, to haue brought that to effect, where of neither you nor I did so much as once thinke, by reason of the daily terrors and feares wherewith we were molested:After the Pharsalian cō flict. For by and by after returned Cicero into Italie. wée had béene alwayes together, and neuer in sunder, neither should I haue had oc •… asion to be offended at your prosperitie: nor yet you to bée so disquieted at my heauinesse. Which thing (mutual societie and 〈◊〉 I meane) let vs, to the vttermost of our abilitie, en •… euour to attaine. For what is there, then that, more 〈◊〉 for vs, more méete, and c •… nuenient. It shall not bée long therefore er •… I sée you.

Fare you well.

Cicero to Titio. THE ARGVMENT.

He comforteth his friend▪ taking the death of his children gricuously.

ALthough I among all men am most vnméete to minister consolation vnto you, The com •… unicating & partakinge of sorrow, is a cō solation. For both of them were touched with the common wealthes miseries, and Titius also be sides had cause of priuate sor rowe. for that the griefe which I conceiued by your heuinesse was so great, that I mée selfe stoode▪ in 〈◊〉 of a comforter: yet not withstanding, forsomuch as my sorrow •… was not so néere the b •… nckes of bitter lamen •… ation and mourning, as yours: I thought it a point of faithfull friendship, and a t •… ken of singular 〈◊〉 , not to kéepe silence ouer long in this your anguish, but to send you s •… succour, and sma •… consolation, which n •… ght ease you a litle of the burthen of your care, if it did not altogether •… ealt •… ou o •… your grie •… e. The consolation, which I giue you is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 mon, and so common is it, that, me thinkes we ough •… to hau •… it alwayes in our vtteraūce, and neuer to let it •… ip out of our memories, It is extreme follie not to be ruled by an vniuersal law. That wee be not vnmindefull of our mortall condition, that wee are bredd and borne vnder the rule of that lawe, which hath appointed the liues of all men to the sufferance of fortunes woūding weapons •… & that w •… ought no •… to kicke vpp the heele, as repining to liue in that state, wherunto by birth we were ordeined▪ neither to take those chaunces, which can be preuented by no policie, nor coūsel, too heuily: Because many as well as hee haue lost their children. but by calling the miffortunes of many other men to our remēbraunce, learne & vnderstand, that whatsoeuer falleth vpon vs▪ is not new and straunge, but hath happened oftentimes before. Howbeit, neither these, nor thos •… cōsolations whatsoeuer, wherwith wisemē hold themselue •… well contented, and which are not onely committed to memorie, but written also in bookes the longer to cōtinue, ought not to séeme so preualent and effectuall, as the veri •… Which is most lamenta ble, in somuch that a wise mā can finde no pleasure in hi •… life. state it selfe of our citie, and the great vnquietnesse of these accursed dayes▪ insomuch that I must néedes pronounce them most happie and fortunate, which neuer begat children, and them lesse wretched 〈◊〉 mis •… rable, which haue lost them in these times of tumults & •… roubles: the •… if they had lost th •… in the flourishing estate of a good cōmon wealth, or when th •… re had As thoughe there had be •… no common 〈◊〉 we •… lth •… t 〈◊〉 time. bene any comon wealth at all. And if your affection be forceable▪ or if the 〈◊〉 ▪ thin •… ing of your matters make you to mour •… e ▪ 〈◊〉 •… •… uppose that al your sor •… ow cāno •… with such •… cilitie be 〈◊〉 bu •… •… hat 〈◊〉 sparkles wil remaine. But if that thin •… mo •… e yo •… , which i •… an argument of natural loue that you 〈◊〉 the miseries of them which hauè made an exchange of life wt death: to make no word •… o •… that which I haue oftētimes nead, & not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , what har •… e can there be in death? which if it 〈◊〉 not se •… selesse▪ might much rather be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 then 〈◊〉 ▪ 〈◊〉 like wise so e •… éemed▪ and though it lack sens •… 〈◊〉 thought a •… •… nimie to life, yet ought not y• to be accompt •… d •… iserie; which is not fealt, suffered, nor perceiued: & thus much more▪ without waue •… ing▪ dare I •… ffirme and approue, so •… eat t •… be the 〈◊〉 which 〈◊〉 , and 〈◊〉 to f •… ll •… ppon the cōmonwe •… lth, that whosoeuer frō them is 〈◊〉 , y• man in mine opinion, is neuer a whit 〈◊〉 . F •… , what place is left now for •… enestie? where lo •… geth goodnes •… ▪ who intertayneth vertue▪ in what hauen lie honest exercises at anchor? where are •… ood arts & sciences ha •… boured? nay▪ is not lib •… rtie dispossessed, and safetie spo •… led of her inheritance▪ I haue not (of trueth I sweare) heard of any youth, or childe, dying this yeare most perillous & satal, which s •… emeth not to mée in high fauour with the eternal gods, in that they were set frée from the fetters of these afflictions, & let loose out of y• prison of this vnluckie lif •… . Wherfore if this cogitation may be vtterly rooted out of your minde, For somuch as theyare not vtterly depriued of this light and life, but that they haue escaped the miseriesof these daungerous dayes. that they whō you haue entirely loued, sustaine annoyaunce: then you shal perceiue, the greatest parte of your heauinesse diminished, and your hearte more flexible to bée recomforted. For that simple care béene induced, i •… I had perceiued that those things which you sustained, were so farre from being of you dissalowed, that they were wel liked off and approued. But when I considered, what your meaning was, then I supposed, that you sawe verie wisely what you were able to compasse. Now y• state of all thinges is otherwise, your iudgement is at libertie, you are appointed to the office of a Consul, in your best and brauest age, in the pearle and floure of your eloquence, A reason of the necessi •… ic of the time. and at such a time, as the common wealth laboureth in extreme skarsitie of such men as you are. Now therfore (I beséech you by the Gods immortall) applie your whoale studie, care, and indeuour, in the attempting and accomplishin •… of that thing, which may pu •… chase to your name singular dignitie, and also incōparable glorie: & surely there is no more but one course of wel gouerning the common wealth, which leadeth the direct path to honour and noblenesse, at this time specially, the weale pu •… lique hauing béen so sore assaulted, afflicted, shakē, battered, beaten and brused, by the space of so many yeares. Thus much I was vrged of méere goodwill to signifie vnto you by my letters, not that I would séeme to make you insufficient of counsel, and therfore to stand in néede of my preceptes & admonitions, but to giue a testimonial of my harti •… goodwil towards you, wherwt I am inflamed. Out of those bookes wherin precepts are giuen for the attainment of renowne. For I knowe this, that out of what springs I haue drawne my water, out o •… y• selfe same also, haue you largely tasted. Wherfore to vse a measure, thus much I thought requisite to let you vnder stand, y• I might rather declare vnto you the certaintie of my beneuolence, then make a vaine showe of my wisedom & experience. In the meane season, whatsoeuer dependeth vppon your worthinesse and honour, I wil haue a regard thereunto with no lesse singularitie and precisenes, then with carefulnes and discretion.

Fare you well.

Plancus to Cicero. THE AROVMENT.

He thanketh Cicero, for his good exhor •… ation tending to the desire of true renowne: and promiseth that he wil be wholie in the power of the common wealth.

MOst acceptable was the letter that you sent mée, which, as I vnderstād, you indited vpon certaine cōference had with Furnius. As for mine owne person, I bring an excuse o •… the time past, that I heard nothing of your iourney, & as litle of your returne, before I was certified by your owne letter. For I persuade mée selfe in this wise, that I can pretermit no maner of •… uetie, though it be with the least, but the same wil redoūd to my great blame & sore discredit. Wherfore to defend & maintaine •… amiliaritie betweene vs, among many specialties, I find some of great efficatie, as the acquaintance which you haue had with my auncestours, y• affection which you exhibited vnto mée in my childhood▪ & the loue which you haue towards me▪ both professed & confirmed. Wherfore (my Cicero) so farre forth as my yeares & your age shall suffer, be certainly persuaded, that you are he only, & none besides you, in reuerencing of whō, I haue determined to vse no lesse sinceritie & obedience, then a sonne should afford to his father. Al your counsels, as they are seasoned with precise wisedome & excellent iudgmēt (both which in you do flourish) so are they tempered with fidelitie, truth, & faithfulnes, I iudge of your mind as I iudge of mine owne, & by mincowne I measure yours. which I measure and examine, as it were by weight, by mine owne cōscience. Wherfore, if I should thinke otherwise (vndoubtedly) your adm •… nition might cōtroule me: or if I did cal it in dubitation, your warning would inforce me to follow y• which séemed s •… mply best in your opiniō. What is there now that can pull men wrong way? whatsoeuer cōmendable ornaments, and things garnished wt goodnes, are residēt in me, either bestowed through fortunes benefite, or obteined by mine owne labour & diligence, although you for affe •… ions sake, •… stéeme them of greater value, yet not wtstanding, in ye iudgmēt of my most enimie, they are set at such a high price of praise, that nothing séemeth desireable, saue the iewel Which peraduenture I had not, thogh I did many notable thinges, when Cae sar was in roome of r •… giment. of honest report. Be resolued in minde, and in thought thus established, that what I can encounter by power, foresée by counsell, procure by authoritie, al and euery portion thereof shalbe referred to the profite of the commonwealth. Your meaning is manifest vnto mée, and as for your admonitions, they shalbe the rule of my doings▪ neither will I at any time so farre ouershoote mée selfe, that any thing of mée attempted, shal deserue reprehension. I am in expectation of all thinges, as desirous to know what is done in Where D. Brutus •… as L. president. Gallia prouince, as also to vnderstand the state of By the newe Consul •… , who entred into of fice in the K •… . of Ianuarie. such matters as haue béene in hand this moneth of Ianuarie in the Citie. In the meane season, very great is my care which I suffer, where I doe remaine, least these countries and people, amonge the faultes of others, should suppose our harmes their occasion. To be briefe, if my successe be such, as I deserue: then certainly, I will satisfie the mindes, both of you, whom I wishe specially to content, and of all good men, least I make their affiaunce frustrate. Regard your health, & loue mée as I loue you.

Fare you wel.

Cicero to Planco. ¶ THE ARGVMENT.

In this Epistle hee pricketh Plancus forward with the spurres of praise, not onely to take vppon him▪ the charge of the common wealth, but also the defence and preseruation of the same.

I Receyued two seuerall letters from you, tendinge to one effect, which was a manifest argument of your dilligence. For I perceiued, that you were touched with a certaine desire, to haue your letters, which I long looked for, deliuered to my hands. Out of which, after I had perused them, I reaped double commoditie and vauntage, very hard for mée in conference to decide by iudgement: whether I should thinke your loue towards my person, or your true hart to the body of the common wealth, of greater accompte and estimation. The loue and affection of oure countrie, in my iudgement, is the greatest without exception, but yet not withstanding, the knitting together of our wills conteyneth more It is true: but yet not more loue. for our countrie in that respect is preferred be fore oure parents and our children, ergo much more before oure friendes. swéetnesse: wherefore the commemoration of that beneuolence, and reuerence, which you exhi •… ited vnto mée as vnto a father, euen from your young yeares, and the rehearsall of such thinges as serued to a semblable purpose, increased in my hart incredible delectation. Againe, the declaring of your mind and studie to the commonwealths aduauntage, which you haue alreadie conceiued, and hereafter meane also to sée continued, appeared vnto me passing pleasaunt. And so much the greater was this delight, how much the néerer it approched to the aboue recited circumstances. Wherefore, my Plancus, I doe not onely exhort but also beséech you, as I haue done in that my letter, whereunto you sent mée an answeare, that with all your heart, wil, and des •… re, with al your body, strēgth and courage, you regard the estate of the weale publique.

There is nothing in the world, whereby your commoditi •… may be more inlarged, your glorie amplif •… ed, and praise published. Neither is any thing of such excellencie in the world vniuersall, or of equal worthinesse, then for a man to behaue himselfe in such order, as that hee may deserue well of the common wealth. For, such is your singular courtesie, and such is your wisedome, that I am not restrained to vtter vnto you with libertie of speache, whatsoeuer I thincke necessarie. Fortune hath so fauoured and furthered you, that the passage to verie great things, hath béen opened wyde to you. And though the attainement of such countenaunce, Be •… se it seemeth that by the fauour of Caesar you obteined that which you haue gotten. without the assistaunce of vertue, were impossible: yet notwithstanding, what soeuer you haue aspired vnto, y• same is referred, for the most part, to the goodnes of Fortune, and ascribed to the state of time. What benefite soeuer the commonwealth receiueth through you, in these troublesome seasons, and hard world, it shall whoalie and solie redounde to your owne dignitie, and be reputed proper to your owne person. The hatred of al Citizens, (those villans onely, of whom you wott, excepted) is incredible against Anthonie. In you is great con •… idence reposed, and on your armie no smal expectation dependeth. Now take héede in any case, for the honour of all the Gods, that you loos •… no time for Which you are like to win by taking vppon you to de fend the common wealth in daunger. your owne ad •… auncement and renowne. I counsell you as a sonne, I fauour you as mée selfe, and I exhort you, in our countries behalfe, as a very friend.

Fare you well.

Cicero to Planco. THE ARGVMENT.

Hee commendeth Plancus for his readines and willing hart in succo •… ring the common wealth: and incourageth him to hope for most ample and honourable rewards frō the Senate for his labour: wherin he promiseth to take diligent paines himself, and exhorteth him, that as he hath begonne notably, so hee would proc •… ede and continue manfully.

ALthough I vnderstand by y• mouth of Furnius, what your will was concerning the common wealth, and what was your counsell: yet notwithstanding, after I had viewed and examined your letters, the matter lay more open and manifest to my iudgemēt, so that I was throughly instructed in your meaning. Wherefore, although the whoale state of the common wealth standeth or falleth in one conflicte or battell, which, as I supposed, was Not onely decreed vpon, but cōcluded and finished. Liu. lib. 28. decided vppon, when you were reading this letter: yet notwithstanding, the verie reporte of your wil and toward minde, was so blased abroad, that therby you atchieued great cōmendation. If we had had a For both the Consuls were gone out to fighte with Anthonie, and therfore were absent from the Citie. Consul at Rome, it should haue béene declared and testified to your speciall praise and worthinesse, by the assent of the Senate, how approueable your enterprises were, & how acceptable your preparation. The time of which thing is not only not paste, but is scarcely come, in mine opinion. For end, That seemeth vnto mee to bee true and not counterfect honour, which is bestowed and employed vppon noble men, not for hope of preferment hereafter, but for present merits and desertes past. Wherfore, let there be any cōmon wealth at all, wherein honour may haue power and abilitie to flourish, and trust mée, it shalbe your lot and lucke, to be aduaunced to the best, the chiefest, and the greatest. And, That honour (to say trueth) may of right be reputed honour, which is not a For Plancus had but giuen a signification of his will: to the intēt, that if he had bene aduaunced to honour, or receiued any in •… igne of worthiue •… se, it might seem •… vnto him an allurement or prouocation to shew prof •… of his prowes, rather then a reward for any not able deede by him perfourmed. temporall reward for further incouragement, but a perpetuall recompence of vertue and honestie▪ Wherfore (my Plancus) lay too all the might you can make, to purchas •… praise, and to winne worship: support your natiue countrie: be an assistant to your fellowe in o •… fice: and refuse not to consent to ye incredible conspiracie of al nations: in so doing, you shall both know and trie that I am a furtherer of your counsells, a •… auourer of your dignitie, an assured friend in all assayes, and a most faithfull companion. For vnto those causes wherewith we are lincked in loue one to another, as wel in respect of courtesies, as in consideration For we haue knowne one another of a long continuance. Epist. 22 lib. 10. of auncientnesses, the tender affection wherewith wée are inflamed, is coupled: and that is it, my Plancus, which hath wrought this effect in mée, that I make more accompt of your life, then I do of mine owne.

Fare you wel. The 4. of the Calends of April.

Cicero to Trebonio. ¶ THE ARGVMENT.

He is sorie, for that he was not accessarie and partener of the conspiracie against Caesars maiestie: because Anthonie suruiuing, doeth what hee can to worke the mischiefe and detriment of the common wealth: finally, hee declareth with what a desire of recouering hi •… libertie hee is touched.

HOw desirous, and how faine would I, that you had bidden mée as a guest, to those delicates and iunckets in the Ides of Marche: Anthonie had not the •… beene lefte aliue. Epist. 12. lib. 10. we would haue had no fragments or broken scraps left. But now it is fallen out vnluckily, and wee haue sore a doe about those reliques, that the good which you did in the behalfe of the common wealth, hath in it some occasion of complaint. Because that from you, being so worthie a man, the benefite did procéede that Meaning Anthonie, to whom it was a benefite to liue. this great contagion & pestilence to the weale publique, remaineth stil vndestroyed: in somuch that otherwhiles, I féele mée selfe so disquieted, and of patience dispossessed, that (a thing skarsely beseeming my person, and not altogether tollerable) I am somewhat angrie with you. For you haue lefte a greater burthen of busines for mée (being but one) to beare, then to all the re •… t, mée selfe onely excepted. For so soone as the Senate might assemble, and sitte in consultation, after that When hee went to Brundisiū, to bring with him the Macedonian power, to the Citie. villanous departing of Anthonie, I returned to mi •… e old accustomed determination, which you and your father also, an earnest and industrious Citizen, alwayes talked off, and hartily loued. For at what time, the Tribunes of the people, had procured a conuocation of the Senate, the 13. of the Kalends of Ianuarie, and caused another matter to be called in question, I imbraced the common wealth, and claspt it whoalie in my boosome, yea I behaued mée self couragiously: and as for the Senate, whom I perceiued in manner fainting and wearie, I reuoked them to their auncient vertue, and former custome: howbeit, not so much with the force of my witt, as with th •… valliauntnesse of my hart and stoutnesse of minde. This day, my indeuour, my painefulnes, and my bui •… e styrring too and fro, hath ministred to the common wealth, the first fruits of hope concerning the recouerie of libertie. Neither haue I omitted any time, after, either in being mindefull of the weale publique, or in labouring and doing what I mighte for the benef •… te of the same. All which premisses touchinge the affaires of the Citie, and other matters besides whatsoeuer, I would let you vnderstand by mine owne letters, but that I am in opinion, that you are otherwise certified and informed: although my For he could neuer be quiet by the meanes of Anthonie. busines be so weightie & importune, that I can obteine but little leasure: neuerthelesse you can not but come to the knowledge of all things, by reason of the recourse of other mens letters: that which you heare of mée, shalbe but litle, a few matters I meane to communicate vnto you, which shalbe comprised in a shorte summarie. Wée haue a valliaunte Senate, as for those which haue béene insigned with the office of the C •… nsulship, some of them are timorous and feareful, othersome malicious and euil minded. Wée are greatly indamaged by y• •… osse of Who died: •… eade the 9. Philippie. Seruius: L. Caesar is in a very good opinion: But, because Anthonie is his vnckle on the mothers side, hée is not ouersharpe and earnest, to giue sentence against him. Our Consuls are men of great grauitie & excellencie: D. Brutus behaueth himselfe honourablie: Caesar, Being but ninetene yeares of age. Vel leius in his 2. lib. & Tacit, lib. 13. the proper youth, is s •… ngularly disposed: in whom I sée good grounds of comfortable hope, for that which remayneth: thus much be you well assured off, and throughly certi •… ed, that if he with all celeritie and spéedie préparation, Of his owne priuate counsel, and proper expēces. Philippic. 3. had not taken vp, enrolled, and must •… d an armie of tried souldiours, being such in déede as were not to be instructed in the feates and conueyaunces of battell: and if two legions of Anthonies hoaste, had not left him, and assembled themselues, to the others authoritie, wherby terrour & feare were as bridles to restraine him in his rigorous vsage: In his returne from Brundisiū, epi. 25. lib. 12. & Philippic. 3. hée would haue let nothing escape him, though neuer so mischie •… ous, though neuer so cruel, bloudie, and sauage. These matters, notwithstanding you were infourmed of them before, as I thinke no lesse, I was not vnwilling to make more manifest, and to lay wider open to your vnderstanding. Other thinges there be, whereof I will write vnto you more largely, when I haue obt •… ined more leysure.

Fare you well.

Cicero to Terentia his wife, Tulliola his daughter, and Cicero his sonne. ¶ THE ARGV •… ENT.

Hee excuseth the breuitie of his writing, commendeth the duetifulnes of Piso his sonne in lawe towards him, bewaileth the state of Terentia, and willeth her to regard her owne health.

THinke This letter was made whē Piso and Gabinius were Consuls. not that I write longer letters to one or other, except they write largely vnto mée, whereuppon I must néedes lengthen my lines, and vse woords more liberally. Againe, I haue nothing whereof I should write: and if I had, yet, as this present time and occasion chaunceth, nothing is done of mée with more hardnesse. As for writing vnto thée, Terentia, and to our daughter Tulliola, Alas, I cannot do it without abundaunce of teares. For I sée that you are most miserable women, and my will alwayes was to behold yo •… happie and for •… unate: which thinge I was bound, of duetie, to sée accomplished, and had brought it to perfection, if wée had not béene so timorous and fainthearted. The merits and desertes of Piso my sonne in lawe, challenge singular loue in my behalfe, to whom I cannot choose but shew much kindenesse, whom I haue aduertised, as I might, in your •… halfe by my letter, and hartily thanked, as in déede I ought▪ You haue good affiaunce▪ as I vnderstand, in the newe Tribunes of the people lately created: that will be for your further confirmation, if Pompeius his wil be inclined according ly: But as for Crassus, I feare him notwithstāding. I sée that al things are done of youwith courage and kindnesse neither do I greatly marueile: howbeit I am to lament your chaūc •… and ouerthwart luck, which in déede is such, that my calamities séeme nothing so many in comparison of your great miseries. For P. Valerius a man full of courtesie, and appliaunt to doe his friend a pleasure, wrote vnto mée, that which I could not read without vnmeasurable wéepinge▪ For that is the mening of these words, a Vestae ad Tabulā Valeriā: by the iudgement of a lear ned man now liueing▪ whose authoritie is grounded vppon certaine monumentes to bee seene yet, in Italie. how you were ledde from court to courte, from magistrate to magistrate, from officer to officer, from lawe to lawe. Alas, my lyfe, alas my ioy and onely delight, that thou shouldest suffer such vexation, that we (I say) my swéete wife Terentia, from whom, al were wont as from a fountaine, to fette their ayde and succour, should be thus imprisoned inperplexities of nē sifenes, and swallowed vppe in surgeinge seas of sorrowe.

Concerning that which you write of our house, that is to say, of oure plaine plot lying in the citie: Thus much I saye by way of resolution, that then I shal thinke me selfe restoared▪ when that is recouered. But ( •… las) these thinges are not in our owne hands. It gréeueth me also, that whatsoeuer costes and charges are required, thou must •… e are a portion thereof, although thou béest brought to extreme miserie, and féelest lacke and losse, procured by spightfull spoilers. And if so be, that the matter may be finished and dispatched, all things shall fall into our possession. But if the selfe same fortune forment vs still without immutation, which at this instant •… doth afflict vs, will you bée so vnwise, as to castaway the remayner of that which you haue; considering your present aduersitie? I pray thée hartily, my life, let them that maye best, stande to expences, if they bée so pleased: and haue a consideration of pour Yet did Terentia liue aboue a hundred yeares as Plinic reporteth. 7. lib. cap. 48. owne health, which is much inféebled, if you loue mée your Cicero. For you are both day and night before mine eyes, and continually represented to my cogitation. I sée thou refusest no kinde of labour, but offerest thée selfe to the susteyning of all whatsoeuer. I sée nothing lacking in thée. Wherefore, to the intente that wée maye obtaine that, wheruppon your hope is fixed, and your paines also employed, neglect not your owne health. I know not vnto whom I should write, except to them onely, who visite mee with their letters: or else, to such as you name in your Epistles, when occasion is ministred. Further then I am, I meane not to trauell, because where I am, doeth not discontent you: h •… w •… eit my desire is▪ that you write often, speci •… lly▪ if in that whereof wée hope, any a •… suraunce be graun •…

Farewell my ioyes, farewell. Dated at Thessalonica, the third of the Nones of October.

Caecina to Cicero. ¶THE ARGVMENT.

First hee intreateth of his booke, which •… ee made vpon Caesar: and after men •… ion thereof sufficiently made, hee desireth Cicero to bee a mediatou •… vnto Caesar, that hee maye obtaine leaue and libertie to returne.

IN that This booke was written in the praise of Caesar, as the other (wherof hee confesseth himselfe to haue felte the smarte) was written to his contume lie & reproch. my booke was somewhat longe before it came to your handes, ascribe it, (I pay you) to oure timorousnesse and feare: and bée moued also with compassion of the time presente. Your sonne (as I hearde) was not in quiet mind •… , (and good reason whie) if it had béene published and made common abroade: forsomuch as it is not so precisely pondered, nor so aduisedly regarded, with what disposition of minde it was written and compiled: as how it is taken and receiued, least that thing be a cause of my further annoyaunce: who as yet féele the smart and punishment of my former inuention and phrase of inditing: wherein I haue such lucke and destinie, as no man besides. For whereas a faulte in writing is dashed out with a race of the penne, and penaltie of foolishnes is an euill report: mine offence and errour is rewarded wt banishment, and exile is my correctiō: the summe of whose trespasse is this, because I being armed, gaue language to mine aduersarie, much missliked. There is neuer a one of vs, in mine opinion, but would wishe the victorie to chaunce to his owne side: yea, and that more is, whē they were sacrificing to the Gods, and busie in holie ceremo •… ies, would euen then powre out their p •… titions, that Caesar, with al possible spéede, might take y• ouerthrow. And whosoeuer did not meditate and thinke vpon this, happie is hée, and in all pointes most fortunate. If Meaning Caelar. hée know this, and therein be persuaded, why should hée take stomache and 〈◊〉 against him, that wrote a thing against his will, seing th •… t hée hath vouchsafed to pardon and forgiue all such as made supplication to the Gods, and exhibited vnto them much ve •… eration, against the •… ife and •… afegard of his person. But to make returne thither, where I begonne: this was the occas •… on of my conceiued feare. I wrote of you (by my credite and honestie) sparingly, and timorously, not as taking courage and hart at grasse, but as renouncing and forsaking mée selfe. What man is ignoraunt that this method and order of inditing or writinge, should be frée and liberall, vehement and patheticall, loftie and hystoricall? That is supposed a loose kinde of writing, to talke of any man vnreuerently, for therein is leudnesse discouered: and that is tangled, when a man speaketh all to his own •… praise and popularitie, for then will followe suspicio •… of arrogancie. That is the frée and •… iberall kinde of writing, to sounde another mannes commendation, from the which to withdrawe and diminishe neuer so •… itle, it is to be imputed to inf •… rmitie and weakene •… e: or else, to bee ascribed to enuie and maliciousnesse. And •… cannot tell, whether my laboure will séeme acceptable vnto you, and approuable in your iudgement. For that whiche I was not able to comprehend and performe, I thought good, first not to touche, secondly to be parciall of my pen, and to do that I did, not ouer largely. Howbeit In that part of his booke wherein hee doth cōmend Cicero. I stayed vp my selfe as well as I might: many things I impaired: many thinges I omitted: and many thinges were not so muche as once mencioned. As therfore it is seene in the climing steps and staues of long ladders, if some be takē away, some cut off and broken, other some left loose and vnfastened, it is made an instrument of falling downe, rather then of going vp: euen so, a desire of writing, encountered with many misfortunes, & as it were torne to tatters with a thousand tempests of troubles, what thing can it affoorde, either in hearing delectable, or in iudgement probable? When I came to the noble name of Caesar, all my ioyntes quaked, and I trembled sore for feare, not for any terrour of punishment, Bycause he was doubtfull howe Caesar would take his doings, wel or yll. but for the vncertaintie of his opinion: for I am not so wel acquainted with him, that I should knowe his whole disposition. In what wauering is my mynde, suppose you, in what a maze of mistrust is my conscience, when it reasoneth with it selfe in this forme and order? This will Caesar allowe: This word offereth cause of suspicion: what if I change it? But I dout in so doing I shall set downe a worsse. Go to then, do I praise any? is that an offence? admit it be so taken, what if he wil not allowe the commendation. Or, he writeth to mee with weapon in hande: Or, hee writethe like a warriour fiercely to his onimie. He detesteth the style and order of writing of his enimie, armed to resist his power: what then will he doe to him that is vanquished, ouercome, and as yet not restored? My fearefulnesse also I féele augmented, wh •… n I fall in consideration of you, who in your Oratour vse circumspection and cautions for your priuate supportance by Brutus, and séeke a fellowe for your excusation. Which thing, for so much as the patrone and defender of al m •… in al cases, vouchsa •… eth to do: what ought I, your ancient client, to thinke in such a case of my selfe? In this repro •… h 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 , and this torment of blinde suspicion, 〈◊〉 many things are written to the coniecture of a contrarie sens •… , and not a •… ter the interpretation of his iudgement, albeit he follow an oblique and crooked opinion, howe hard a matter it is for the writer to frame him selfe to a contentation, we are not ignorant, and you also, whom excellencie of wit hath both armed and abled, haue notable e •… perieuce. Howbeit, I sayde thus much to my sonne, tha •… be might reade ouer the booke▪ vnto you, and so bring it away againe, or else deliuer it to your selfe vpon this condition, that you made promise to adde therevnto your corrections, that is, if you would translate this and that, and make it all otherwise. As touching our voyage into Asia▪ although we felt the burthen of necessitie pr •… ssing downe our shoulders, yet haue we done according to your commaundement. And nowe, wherevnto should I exhort you for my sake? you sée the time is come, wherein somwhat must be decréed & concluded vpon in our behalfe. There remaineth nothing, my Cicero, why you shoulde labour in expectation of my sonne: he is but a springall, his vehement affection wherein he now trauelleth, his yong yeares wherein he is entered, and the feare wherewith he is molested, are suche hindera •… ces vnto his mynde, that he can not excogitate and deuise all things to the vttermost. So that the weight of the whole matter, must néedes rest vpon your owne necke: all my affiaunce is fixed on you. Such is your wisdome, prudence, and experiēce, that you know of a certaintie, with what things Caesar is pacified contented, and pleased. So that from your prouidence all things must procéede, and haue their issue, and by your discretien they must be accomplished: for otherwise there remaineth no remedie. Much may you do with his owne person so great is his fauour: and very muche can you obteine of his friends, so good is your credite: and to thi •… •… ne thing shall you ioyne performance, if you could be thus persuaded, that in request resteth duetie, (although it •… e a great matter and of much weight) and that the case, wherin your ayde is craued, is your owne: except, peraduenture, I put you to this paine, either by too much foolishnesse in this my For such as be in miserie may scarse vse such boldnes. miserie, or else by too much shamelesnesse in our Bicause olde acquaintance presumeth ve •… y fa •… e. auncient friendship. But the custome of your life is such, that it excuseth both my supposed presumption •… . For, s •… thence your vse hath alwayes béene, to set light by your labour in your friendes behalfe and furtheraunce: nowe they are, not in hope onely that you will doe the like, but charge you also with a commaundement. Concerning the booke which my sonne shall giue you, my request vnto you, is, that it may not be published: or that you wold so correct it, that I thereby be not indaungered.

Fare you well.

Cicero to Thoranio. THE ARGVMENT.

To comfort Thoranius, he gathereth arguments from circumstaunces past, and setteth him selfe downe for a president or patterne to bee followed.

ALthough, at the writing of this letter, the ende of this most miserable battell séemed to approche, or that somewhat therein was done and alreadie dispatched: yet notwithstanding, I called to my remembraunce, that onely you among the rest, in so huge an hoaste, gaue me your assent, and I againe with you was not at disagréement: and that we twaine alone did beho •… de and sée, what mischiefe and inconuenience was in that warre, in the which, peace being excluded and di •… possessed of place, the victorie it selfe woulde proue most bytter and cruell: which, if you had béene conquered, had wrought your vtter destruction, or if you had triumphed, had brought you Bicause of the malape •… arrogancie of Pompeius his complices. in slaueishe subiection. Wherefore I, whome men, both of courage and wisedome, reported to be When I preferred most wrongfull peace, before most rightful warre. timorous and fearefull, Domitus I meane and Lentulus, (I was so indéede: fearing least those thinges shoulde chaunce▪ which afterwardes came to passe) am nothing so affected, but rather couragious, and readie furnished against all manner of misfortunes. When any thing appeared vnto me in possibilitie of preuention and auoydance, then it grieued me at the heart, if it were neglected. But nowe, that all thinges are turned vpside downe, sithence counsell coulde not preuayle, one refuge yet remaineth, that is, patiently to suffer what so euer lucke allotteth: principally for this cause, sithence of all things whatsoeuer, death i •… the conclusion: and of this I am fully persuaded in conscience, that so long as I might, I tendered the dignitie of the commō wealth, and when that suffered shipwracke, my will wanted not to prouide for the safetie of the same. Thus much haue I written, not to giue euidence of my selfe: but that you, who in mynde, heart, wil, consent, and iudgement, are al one with me, should none otherwise conceiue. For it is the most souereigne comfort in the world, that a man call to memorie his vpright and iust conscience, notwithstanding the successe of things be not answerable. And I would to God, that time might once chaunce, wherein we might sée and inioy one or other state of a weale publique, and that we twaine might méete and conferre of our di •… ers distresses, which euen then we susteined, whē we were thought faintharted, bicause we did prognosticate and foretell that the self same things which are come to passe, should chaunce in tract of time. As for you, and yours whatsoeuer, I assure you of this, that there is nothing whereof you shoulde stande in feare, otherwise then chaunceth to the whole body of the common wealth. And as for me, so thinke of me, and so take me, that to the vttermost of my might, I am your present friend, both for the safetie of your selfe, and your children, withall my hart.

Fare you well.

Cicero to Domitio. THE ARGVMENT.

Hee desiereth Domitius lamenting the death of his •… riendes, to haue consideration of his owne estate, sithence the common wealth is not vnsatisfied.

MY will was not withdrawne from writing vnto you, after your comming into Italie, bycause I receiued no letters from you, but bycause I my selfe being destitute of al things, had nothing left whereof to make you promise •… neyther was I able in such lacke of counsell to deale with you by way of persuasion, nor yet to minister vnto you 〈◊〉 of comfort, in so great and manifold e miseries. Although these things are neuer a whit the better, but so muche the worsse that they are méere desperate: yet had I rather that my letters should stande voyde and waste, then not to write at all. If I did vnderstand that you tooke vpon you a greater charge in the behalfe of the common wealth, then you are able to cō passe and perfourme: yet notwithstanding, I would counsel you by all the circumstances that I might, to that condition of liuing which should be offered and allotted. As thogh the battel fought at Pharsalia wer his whole port and coū tenance by the wil of fortune But séeing you make that the scope and ende of your good determination, and valliaunt attempt, whiche Fortune her selfe hath appointed to be the limittes and boundes of all our labours and enterprises: I request you, I desire you, I praye you, and heartily beséech you for our olde familiarities sake, and auncient acquaintance, and for the great good will which I beare you, and you likewise me in equal proportion and measure of faithfull friendship, that you wil not neglect the sa •… egarde o •… your own •… life, which we wishe to be prolonged for our comfort, the ioy of your parents, your wife, and all yours whosoeuer, to whom you are at this present, & alwayes haue bene, best beloued: let your mynde be touched with due consideration towards your owne health, and the health of all such as depend vpon you, taking you for their supporter, and principall proppe of their preseruation. Use the benefite of those things, at this instant, which you haue learned in times past, and wherein you haue, from your yong yeares, bene trayned and instructed, by men of singular knowledge, learning, wisdome and iudgement: which also you haue imprinted in the tables of your remembrance, and ingrauen in the plates of your déep vnderstanding. For end, satisfie the desires of those your special •… riends, whom entier loue hath lincked, and many •… old testimonies of courtesies haue knit close vnto you, For we can not chose but be greued: neuerthelesse we can ouercome our griefe by valliantnes •… e. if not with a willing and toward, yet with a couragious heart, and a stout stomach. As for my selfe, I wot not what I may doe, or rather I perceiue •… hat I can not 〈◊〉 m •… ch: nenerthelesse, thus farre will I 〈◊〉 in promise, that whatsoeuer I 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and conuenient, both for your safetie, and also for your dignitie, shal be labored in, wt as much carefulnesse and diligence on my behalfe, as euer you employed in the furtherance of my matters. Of this my wil, leaning wholy vpon you, I haue made report to your mother, a notable Gentlewoman (no dout) & such a one as loueth you excéedingly. If you write vnto me touching any thing▪ I wil therin bestow mine indeuour: as I shal know it best agréeable to your desire: and thoughe you write but little: yet notwithstanding, whatsoeuer in mine opinion shall be necessarie and expedient for you, my trauell therein shall not be neglected, nor my diligence denied.

Fare you well.

Cicero to Cassio. ¶ THE ARGVMENT.

In this Epistle he inueyeth against Anthonie, and his confederates.

YOur friende Anthonie, kindleth coles offurious outrage continually, and maketh no intermission. First he hath caused this title to be written in the standing image which he hath set in y• Oratorie pulpit. PARENTI OPTIME MERITO. To the best deseruing father of his countrie: so that you are not only iudged manquellers, but also murtherers of your affinitie: what say I, that you are so iudged? nay rather that we are so termed: For that madde beast auoucheth, that I was the Prince and ringleader of that your noble and commendable déede. Brutus and Cassius did not communicate their counsel in kil li •… g Caesar, with Cicero. Plutarch. I would to God my fortune had béene so happie: then had not he béene so combersome vnto vs. But it was your déede, ful of manhood and prówesse: in which, for so muche as it is past, I woulde I were able to giue you any counsell. But. I can not deuise, what I may doe for myselfe. For, what other remedie doth remaine, but that force fight against force▪ and violence struggle with violence? Thi •… is the purpose and meaning of them all, in generall: not to stay, till they haue procured the slaughter of Caesar. Wherfore▪ he being brought into a solemne assembly and conuent by A Tribune of the people, who wa •… after wardes slaine of Octauian. Canutiús, before the sixte day of the Nones of October, departed away very cowardly and filthily: howbeit •… e vttered those things, cōcerning the defenders and preseruers of their countrie, which should haue béene applyed to traytours and rebels of the common wealth. And touching me, he spake not very doubtfully, when he saide, that whatsoeuer you had attempted, or Canutus put in practise, issued altogether from my counsell and procurement. Now by this little crop, iudge you of the whole lumpe, & how they are intended in other cases, suppose you by this cir •… umstāce, in y• they spoyled & robbed your embasador of his purueyance. What, thinke you, is their meaning, when they venture so farre? and spare not to set a broche such an enterprise? To be carried to a sworne enimie: O extreame miserie. We could not abide to haue a Lord rule ouer vs, and we are in subiection to a fellowe seruant. Howbeit, hope resteth in your Of tentimes testified, but specially against the Pa •… thians. puisaunce and noblenesse, euen now, wherof I trauell in affection, rather then in confidence. But where be your souldiers? As touching that which remaineth, I would haue you conferre wt your owne conscience, and not to séeke so muche after the knowledge of our sayings.

Fare you well.

Cicero to Trebatio. THE ARGVMENT.

He seemeth to commend Trebatius, a •… a wise man, whiles he did auoyde the inconueniences of warre. But in deede he noteth him for a timorous coward. Somewhat he writeth of Octauius, & of Trebatius his riches, and hautinesse, pleasantly

IN the conclusion of the tragedie, called THE TROYAN HORSE, you know this sentence is vsurped, Sero sapiunt, Wise with had I wist. But you, old suersbée Bycause your desire is to medle with war in no case, wherein you shewe your self a wisemā. are not wise too late. First I haue to signifie vnto you, that I receiued your letters, which sauoured somwhat of madnesse, and also of follie. Furthermore, in that you shew not your selfe very desierous to sée Britannie, I reproue not your wisdome. And now me thinkes, you are at ease in your Inne, and therefore you passe not how litle you be combred. To be circumspect and wise in all respectes, is a well whetted weapon. I •… I vsed to suppe often abroade, I woulde neuer be out of the company o •… Cne. Octauius, youre familiar 〈◊〉 , vnto whome, when he hath bidden me as a guest to take part of his chéere, I haue cast out this language, He noteth the basenesse of the man. I pray, Syr, who are you? but (by my fayth and honestie) to speake in good sadnesse. The man is verie pleasant and honest. I would you had brought him away with you. Let me be fully certified what you do, and whether it be your determination to come to Itali •… this Winter, or no. Balbus infourm •… d me of a certaintie, that you were like to proue very riche and wealthy. But whither his meaning was after the Romane manner, or after the Stoicall sort Or, that may vse and enioye the ple sures and profites of heauē and 〈◊〉 . (who hold opinion that he is wel monied & ful of substance, that enioyeth the benefits of heauen and earth) hereafter I shall haue triall. Such as come hether, from the place where you abide, accuse you of pride and hautinesse, bicause you will not vouchsafe to make them answere that craue your counsell. Neuerthelesse, you haue occasion to be glad. For it is commonly knowne among all men, that there is not a more cunning and skilfull lawyer then you in Samarobrina.

Fare you well.

Cicero to Cornificio. ¶ THE ARGVMENT.

He excuseth him selfe for seldome writing▪ commendeth the p •… dence, wisedome, grauitie, and sobernesse of Cornificius: accuseth the present state of the common wealth, with a purgation in Caesars behalfe.

TO that whiche was the last point and conclusion in your Epistle, I answere firste, and make it the beginning of my letter. For I haue marked and obserued, that you great Rhetoricians and famous Oratours, vsurpe the same order otherwhiles. You require my letters, which I neuer failed to send, whēsoeuer I was informed of any that made passage that way. In that I gather by the scope of your letters, that you wil not attempt, nor determine vpon any thing of a certaintie, before you had vnderstanding, howe farre foorth that felow (I wot not what he is) Caerilius Bassus wold presume: my hope and confidence inclined that way, by reason of your policie which put me in comfort, & the grauitie of your style in writing, which discharged me of despaire. My earnest request vnto you, is, that you would write as often as may be, to the intent that I may be resolued what you doe, & what other do, and also what you are purposed hereafter to take in hand. And, although I was sorie at my hart for your departing from me: yet notwithstanding I restored my selfe with consolation at the same instant, both bicause I thought thus in my mind: He shal go where he shal be at peace, quietnesse, rest & tranquillitie, & shal be deliuered from matters of great importance, which desire present attendaunce: albeit the contrarie chaunced, in both respects. For there, where you be, war & tumult •… 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 here where I am, peace began to flourish, but such a kinde of peace, wherin if you had ben conuersant, many things would not haue ben to your liking, & yet the selfe same wherewith Caesar him selfe, is not well pleased. But suche be the endes of ciuil warres and commotions, that those things only, which the conquerour wold, are not accomplished: but that their desi •… rs also, by whose helpe the victorie was obteined, must be satisfied. I am so confirmed in minde, &, as it were, so hardned, that I was wel contented to be a beholder of Plancus But sa whom Caesar restored. Plancus, & a hearer of Laberius & Publius their poesies in Caesars shewes & pageants. Knowe you thus much, that I stand in néede of nothing so much, as I do of one with whom I may haue familiar cōmunication, and learned laughter: & you shal be the man, if you come quickly, which that you do, I thinke for me profitable, and for your selfe not incommodious.

Fare you well.

Cicero to Culleolo. THE ARGVMENT.

He giueth thanks in his owne & Pompeius name, for the great c •… tesie shewed to 〈◊〉 , and commendeth him vpon occasion.

WHatsoeuer you haue done in L. Lucceius his behalfe, I would haue you wel assured, is done to the com •… oditie and furtheraunce of a well disposed person, and suche a one whome insolence can not make vnthankfull: yea, that which you haue done I my self account worthy acceptation and recourse of dutie: besides that, Pompeius, so often as he setteth eye on me, (which is not seldome) giueth you singular thankes. Thus much more also I adde, wherof, I am certain you will conceiue principal pleasure, that by your benignitie and friendly vsage towards Lucceius, I felt my selfe very ioyfully affected. Nowe to that which remaineth, although I mistrust not, but you will continue in the selfe same your accustomed liberalitie, at this time for your owne constan •… ie, as heretofore for my sake: yet notwithstanding, mine earnest request vnto you, is, that what so euer you haue shewed in the beginning, and haue also indeuoured to procéede, you would employ your wil and labour, that to the end if may be augmēted, increased, & inlarged. Which if you doe, both Luc ceius & Pompeius shall wel accept your courtesse, & you shall leaue with them a principal pledg of your merits, thus much I auouch and do able. Touching the common wealth, of these matters, and our meaning, I wrote vnto you diligently, a fewe dayes agone, and those letters deliuered I to your seruants.

Fare you well.

Cicero to Ampio Balbo. ¶ THE ARGVMENT.

He signifieth in writing, with what •… re he is touched, towardes the safetie of Ampius being in exile and banishment: whome he •… comforteth, and commaundeth to rest in hope.

COncerning It is peraduē ture the same A. Bal. to whō he writeth in the 3. Epi. li. 1. & 13. Epi. li. 6. the care which I conceiue for your preseruation and safegard, the letters of diuers of your friends haue giuen you information: whome I haue satisfied to the vttermost, as I am well assured. Neither do I giue ground vnto them, as though there were imperfections in my frendshippe, albeit their beneuolence towardes you be singular, that therefore they are more desierous of your safetie and welfare then I. But they must, of necessitie, giue place vnto me, as one more able to doe you a pleasure, at this present then they. Whiche thing I haue not neglected to doe in your behalfe, neyther will I fayle to be your furtherer, and I haue done so alreadie, in a matter of great importaunce, hauing a regarde to lay the foundation and groundworke of your safetie and life. Sée that you be of good courage, and of a valliaunt spirite, making due account of my helpe and assistance in all things whatsoeuer. The day before the Nones of Iulie.

Fare you well.

Cicero to Torquato. THE ARGVMENT.

He comforteth Torquatus, who stacke to Pompeius his side, in this, bicause he was not at Rome: and minist •… eth vnto him some hope of returne.

ALthoughe He comforteth him by the common condition of all men. such be the present troubls and turmoyles, that nothing is left in iust square, but euery man repenteth him of his state and condition: & that there is none which had not rather be any where else, then where he now is resident and abiding: yet doubt not I, but that to a good and an honest man, it would be most wretched and lamentable to be in Rome, at this present▪ For, though in what place soeuer a man remaine, the sorrowe and griefe is al one which springeth from the ruine and ouerthrowe of thinges Touching a mans owne selfe, and his natiue contry. priuate and publique: yet doe the eyes, in beholding desolate disorder and confusson, kindle the more anguishe, whiche sée and viewe those thinges, that others heare by reporte, in so muche that they can not, for their liues, but suffer the bloudie butcherie of miserable cogitations. Wherefore, although you sustaine the sting of man •… a vehement desire, as it is needefull : yet would I haue you to exonerate and vnloade your mynde of that sorrowe, wherewith I heare▪ you are most consumed, that is, bycause you are absent from the citie of Rome. For although you are touched with an earnest affection to sée your friends & your goods: yet, those thinges, which so ardently you require, continue in their owne state: neyther could they waxe better if you were present, neither in perill to be worsse, nowe that you are absent. You ought not, whē your mind is occupied in the 〈◊〉 of you •… priuate matters, to craue •… ome seuerall and singular condition of countenaunce, or refuse to take part of that fortune which is common to many. And as for your owne person▪ my Torquatus, such ought your thoughtes and cogitations to be, that desperation ingender no impediment, nor timorousness •… any hinderance to your consultations and purposes. For neither he, which shewed him self against you more vniust and iniurious, then your dignitie deserued, hath giuen you any great signes and tokens of a spirit not appeased: neither is he fully resolued touching your safetie, of whom safetie by petition is desired. And for so muche as, The euent, successe, and end of war, is vncertaine: the victory on the ▪From the person of Caesar. one side, so farre as I sée, can not be to your preiudice and annoyance, bicause it inclineth not to the destruction of any: & From the person of 〈◊〉 . as for the victory on the other •… de, I am certainly persuaded, you your self haue not mistrusted nor •… eared. It remayneth, that one thing among all the rest, much molest and vexe you, which I count a kinde of consolation, and that is the hassar •… e o •… the whole common wealth, against which •… oule mischiefe and inconueniēce, although many learned men make many words, I feare me no soue •… eine •… emedie can be found, saue that only and alone, which is so great, as there i •… in mens minds fortitude and courage, & in their handes valliantnesse & strength. For i •… so be that, To thinke well, and do no worsse, be mean •… sufficient to attaine a blessed life, then is it a false and wrong full speach (in mine opinion and fantas •… e) to say, that such a man is miserable, whom conscience for his wise 〈◊〉 and vertuou •… purposes, st •… dfastly suppor •… .

Neyther dyd wée (a •… I thinke) being ledde with the rewardes o •… victorie, leaue our count •… ey in tynie •… paste, our children, kindred, a •… d all that we were worth: But A good man doth nothing vpon hope, but followeth his duetie. a certaine duetie o •… 〈◊〉 , p •… etie, reuerence, and lo •… e, due and payable to the weale p •… blique, and not imp •… rtinent to o •… r dignitie and 〈◊〉 : whose myndes were not so robbed of reason, and subiect to madnesse, when we did as we did, but the e •… ent of the victorie was manifest vnto vs.

Wherefore, if that be come to passe, whithe we counte •… likely for to chaunce, at the very entraunce into our cause: we •… ught not to be faintharted nowe and fall into diffidence, as though som thing which we thought impossible to be done had •… appened. Let vs therefore be of that persuasion and iudgement, which reason prescribeth, and trueth deciphereth that Whatsoeuer we attempt in the course of our life, blame may be auoyded: which •… if we doe want, we may suffer all mutations and chaunges, incident to this mortalitie, with patience and moderation. This talke of mine is vttered to this ende, that we may fixe our heartes vppon this firme foundation of comfort, that Vertue is of sufficient abilitie to beare vp her selfe, when all things else runne to ruine, perish, and come to nought. But if there be any state wher •… in is communitie, you shall not want it, Torquatus, whatsoeuer it be. As I was penning this letter vnto you, I remembred how you were wont to accuse my In Pompeius his cause. desperate dealing, or rather my wauering and mistrusting mynde, whome you vndertooke to harten with your countenaunce, and with your a •… thoritie to incourage. At whiche time vndoubtedly, I did not so much mislike our cause, as I disal •… wed •… ur •… ounsell. For I perceiued that we were wise too late, in mak •… g resistance against that power, When we▪ made an 〈◊〉 to Caesar of Gallia •… or the space of fiue whole yeares. whiche we long befor •… had confirmed. And then I added moreouer, that in def •… nce of •… pen right, and supp •… ssing ofwrong, we tooke vs to the speare, the shielde, & the sword, a •… for our counsels and authoriti •… s they lay still vntouched. 〈◊〉 did I prophes •… e vp •… n those thinges which came to passe, when I sayde they wo •… lde chaunce in time: But I did •… eare, leaste that should come to passe, wherein was muche likelyhoode, and whiche I sawe verie hu •… tfull and daungerous, if it grewe to perfection: speci •… lly, if I might Of Caesar •… victorie. promise that, with certaintie to fall out herea •… ter, which hath some assured successe, if in that behal •… e promise might be made. For in those thinges did we most excell and preuaile, which in open field are not broached, nor vsed: as for warre and weapons, we were farre inferiour in force, and also muche weaker. But let your mynde be of the same disposition, I beséeche▪ you, and take vnto you the like couragious stomache, as you thought it behoued me to testif •… e in time of necessitie. These thinges haue I written to that end and purpose, bycause your friende Philargyrus reported vnto me your whole estate, not omitting any circumstaunce, with a most faythfull and honest heart, as I supposed, when I was inquisitiue to knowe your condition: adding moreouer, that you are wont sometimes, to be in subiection to vehement passions, and to shewe your selfe racked with wonder •… ull carefulnesse: whiche you ought not to doe, nor yet so much as once to mistrust and dout, for that your M •… ning that in time to come, hee was in likelyhood to come to gre •… t dignitie and promotiō haruest is in hope hereafter, in one common wealth or other: Or else, if the state of the weale publique be so sore assaulted, that it sustaine, n •… t onely ruine temporall, but also vtter suppression: yet despaire not you, eyther of your state present, or o •… that which is to come: for your miseries shall not surmount the miseries of the rest, but euen as they are afflicted: so shall you be molested. As for this time of perilous tumulte, wherein we liue, the inconueniences whereof consume the courage of vs all, as it were a running cancker, and kéepeth our myndes in wauering suspension, you must su •… fer without heart griefe, at least, with griefe not drowned in extremitie, but seasoned with moderation and indifferencie: bicause your conuersation and course of life, is in that Athens Epi. •… lib. 6. citie, where Ladie Reason was not onely borne and begotten, but also fed and fostered: and a measurable trade of lyfe, in like manner, mainteined. Besides that, you haue Gouernour of Achaia. Epi. 4. lib. 4. &. Epi. 6. lib. 6. Ser. S •… lpicius for your comforter, whome you haue alwayes tendered with equall proportion of kyndnesse, a •… your owne selfe, whose good will is in a readinesse, and whose wisedome neuer vnprepared, to instill swéete droppes of consolation, into your heart wou •… ded with anguishe: whose authoritie if we had not disanulled, nor reie •… d his Fo •… he gaue vs counsell in no wise to intermedle with ciuil warre. Epi. 4. lib. 4. aduisement, we had béen rather in power of the gracious scepter, then vnder force of the rauening sworde: in the dominion of For in time of peace, the Romanes cō monly dyd weare gounes a long gownd •… magistrate, then in subi •… ction to the vi •… ory of an harn •… ssed warriour. But these things haue béene told with more tediousnesse, then peraduenture 〈◊〉 r •… quired. I haue no friende in all the worlde, t •… whome I owe more seruice and duetie of courtesie, then vnto your person: And as for those Gentlemen, to whose goodnesse I am no lesse in debt, then you doe vnders •… ande, the mischiefous chaunce of this bloudie warre, hath deuoured them all, and by that meanes am I quite dispossessed. As for my present estate, Namely, in no authoritie or estimation. what I am, and of what account at this time. I am not ignoraunt. But For so much as there is no man •… o •… ourged with calamities, that may not attempt somwhat in his owne •… ehalf, and take tryall to the vttermost; i •… hi •… mynde be in •… lined and proane to nothing else but vnto that whiche he •… hath in hande: I would haue you make ful reckoning of al my counsel, of all my labor, of all my loue, & what so euer else is incident to honestie and faythfulnesse, not to be yours onely, but your children •… also, at Or, to bee owing as due debt▪ and demaundable: bicause hee hath made pro mise▪ to Torquatus to doe something for •… im and hi •… . commaundement and seruice.

Fare you well.

Cicero to Metello. ¶ THE ARGVMENT.

He being in exill •… and banishment▪ craueth the good will helpe and assistance of Me •… ellus, bearing at the same t •… me the office of th •… honourable Con •… ship.

THE letters o •… my brother 〈◊〉 , and of T •… Pom •… ponius my verie friende, 〈◊〉 vnto me suche▪ greate •… boundant hope, and plentifull confid •… nce, that no less •… ay •… concerning me now in erile, then assistance in your P. Lentulus who was earnest with the Senate for Ciceroqs restitution. fellow officer séemed to consist. Wherefore putting off all procrastination and delayes, I sent my letters vnto you, whereby, as my hard fortune and vnhappie lucke required, I haue both acknowledged the dutie of one not vnthankfull, and ha •… e, in consideration of the residue of the time, presumed to craue your friendly furtheraunce. After this, not only the letters of my good and louing fauourers, but the report of diuers passingers, whose iourney lay through these quarters, signified vnto me, your constant mynde and vnchaungeable affection. Whiche thing wrought in me such a conceit, and bred suche an imagination in my heart, that I durst not be so bolde, as to molest and trouble you with my néedelesse Epistles. And nowe Quinctus my brother, sent me the summe of that Oration tempered with Bicause Me •… llus was his aduersarie before. muche myldnesse, and maruellous clemencie, which you in my behalfe made in the audience of the Senate with great solemnitie, and he exemplified, that I might not be ignorant: in perufing wherof, I felt such inwarde motions, and passions of spirite, that I could not, but of méere compulsion, write somwhat to so good a Gentleman: and I desire you earnestly, and beséeche you humbly, so farre foorth as your will may suffer, that you would rather tender my life and the safetie of your frientes, then withstand and resist me, to please the arrogant crueltie of Meaning such as did ayde Clodiu •… : for in the: 4. booke Ad Atticum, and the 3. Epistle, this Metellus is called the bro ther of Publius Clodius, who was enimie to Ci •… ro person. You haue vanquished and quite suppressed the rage of your own anger & conceiued hatred, for the benefite of the weale publique: and will you be drawne by other mens maliciousnesse, to bend and fortifie your power, to the annoyance of the common wealth? Now, if, of your clemencie and goodnesse, you will vouchsafe me your supportation and assistance, I protest vnfainedly, and promise religiously, that I will be wholy in your iurisdiction & at commandement. But if it be not permitted nor thought lawfull, that eyther a The Consul P. Lentulus, most willing to see to Cicero his safetie. magistrate rescue me, the Senate succo •… r me, or the people 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , 〈◊〉 of that 〈◊〉 which hath ouer come me and the cōmon wealth •… I wish you to be circumspect and well aduised▪ least when you woulde so he that might haue béene preserued, shall be sequ •… stred from that commoditie.

Fare you well.

Cicero to Antonio. ¶ THE ARGVMENT.

Hee chargeth Anthonie with dissolutenesse in duetie: casteth in his dish the ingratitude of his nature, and commendeth vnto him a certaine Gentleman named Atticus.

ALthough my determination was, It is maruel that he would write to such a gouernour whose vsage in the prouince wher he ruled wa •… saultie & blame worthy: as Dio, Obsequens, in Epitome Liuiana report. not only to vse an intermission of writing, but also to stay my pen vtterly frō in •… iting letters vnto your highnesse, (commendatorie Epistles excepted:) not bicause I knewe of certaintie, that they were of force and vertue sufficient with your person: but least I shoulde offer suspicion to them, at whose request I I refused not to write, somewhat to be derogated from our familia •… tie, and 〈◊〉 wonted acquaintance to be diminished. Howbeit, whē T. Pomponius, one that is not ignorant of mine affection towardes you, and of my dutifulnesse perfectly insirueted, bearing you heartie goodwil, and not enuying vs, prepared his iourney to the place of your abiding, I thought it necessarie to write somwhat, He signifieth that hee wrote against his will. specially, for that I perceiued Pomponius woulde not otherwise be answered. If the courtesie which I exact of you, were beyond all credit, and the recourse of benefites whiche I demaund did excéede, yet ought no man to wonder as though I were importune, nor fall into admiration as though I were impudent. For what is there whiche tendet •… , eyther For store & plentie of mat ter, this place is to be confer ted with that whiche is set downe Epi. 8. lib. 5. to your profite, For store & plentie of mat ter, this place is to be confer ted with that whiche is set downe Epi. 8. lib. 5. to your honour, and For store & plentie of mat ter, this place is to be confer ted with that whiche is set downe Epi. 8. lib. 5. to your rendune, that hath not had issue from the liberall and franke disposition of my nature? all which thinges notwithstanding, haue procured me so small aduauntage, that you are the man whiche haue made me no recompence: your self are an approuable witnesse. Contrariwise, that from you towardes me something hath proceeded, I haue, by the reportes of many, indeede rec •… ed: for that I haue had trial and experience, I dare not seeme so presumptious, as boldly to affirme, least (peraduenture) I should vpbraide you with that Of an vnthankfull fellow, or a beast v •… worthy of any benefite. vncourteous terme, which you are wont, as the voyce goeth, to dse in my discredite without desart. But touching those things which are reported vnto me, I had rather you shoulde vnderstand them at the mouth of Pomponius, to whom they were troublesome in semblable measure and proportion: then attaine the knowledge of thē by the meanes of my letters. Concerning mine owne mynd, with what singular courtesie, and especiall dutie, it hath ben towards you inclined: as wel the honourable Senate, as also the people of Rome can giue suff •… ient testimonie: and as for your owne person, you may consider with your selfe thus much▪ that with me you haue bin in great credite, and acceptation: for which my humanitie and gentlenesse, how déepe a debter you are vnto me, I refuse not the iudgement of other men, to take true trial. Whatsoeuer I haue attempted in times past, to do you good, & for your benefit also accomplished, I was drawn and allured ther vnto through the liberal disposition of my wil, & afterwards by my constancie, & vn •… ariablenesse: But as for those matters which The iudgement whiche proceeded against Anthonie, M. Coelius being his accu •… er: in the which iudgement, Cicero defended Anthonie. remaine, they desire, beléeue me, my furtherāce the more earnestly, greater grauitie, & no litle labour. Which I am content to sustaine and take vpō me to the vttermost of my power; if I may p •… rceiue that my trauell is not fruitlesse, nor my good will frustrate: But if ingratitude be the pension of my beneuolence, and securitie the recompence of my courtesie, I wil not wade so farre in follie, that you for my gentlenesse account me no better then mad and lunatike, what I meane, & what maner of matter I make 〈◊〉 of so 〈◊〉 , you may vnderstand of Pomponius: whom I do so comm •… nd vnto your highnesse, that, although I mistrust not your goodnesse to his furtherāce by all meanes 〈◊〉 , yet not withstanding, I presume vpon you with one petition, y• if there remaine in your mynde any marke or token, of my loue towards your person, you would expresse y• same in Pomponius behalf: then which you •… n do nothing vnto me more acceptable.

Fare you well.

Bithynicus to Cicero. ¶ THE ARGVMENT.

He maketh a secrete way and entrance to his petition and request, by calling to remembraunce the mutuall loue which was betweene him and Cicero: the s •… me of his request is, that hee would put his friendship in practise to defende him whiles hee is absent, for so much as there is no doubt, but what so euer he doth, is in hop •… to be considered and recompenced.

IF the causes of our friendship were not manifold, & grounded vpon iustice, and conscience, I would make a rehearsal of the first beginnings, and (as I may say) the séedes or blossomes of the same, from our progenitours & parents. Which thing they ought to attempt, in my thinking, that haue had an eye to the acquaintance and familiaritie of their fathers, but haue not sealed the same with the signets of their owne courtebus behauiour, and liberall disposition, in friendly du •… ulnesse. Wherefore, I will holde my selfe satisfied with our priuate friendship, and therein shewe that I am well contented: vpon hope and affiance whereof, I presume to be your petitioner, and the summe of my request is this, that in myne absence, it would please you to be my present tutor and de •… ender, in all cases, states, suites, and controuersies depending vpon necessitie, if you are of opinion, that no part or portion of your welwilling and well doing to me, should lye The latine worde is applyed to such as haue the fal ling sicknesse, who are sayde (whiles they are in their agonie and pas sion) to be nei ther aliue nor deade. fainting betwéene life and death, that is, neyther forgotten nor vnremembred.

Fare you well.

Cicero to Bithynico. ¶ THE ARGVMENT.

He declareth with what a feruent desire of leading his life with Bithy nico, hee is inflamed and kindled: and professeth that he loueth him as dearely as one friende can loue another, with all sinceritie and perfectnesse.

I Desire This letter was sent to Q. Pompei us B •… thy nicus of whom Tul lie maketh menciō in his booke of notable and famous orators he was named Bithynicus, of Bithynia a place which he subdued, after the report of Festus for many considerations, that yet at the length the common wealth might be restored to tranquillitie, and set frée from all tumultes and cruell insurrections: yea for this I wish to s •… e that gratious time, trust my words, that I may be the more earnest to challenge interest in your promise, which in your letters vnto me directed, is e •… ppessed. For the contentes and argument of your Epistle, is, that if thinges might growe to that issue, you woulde leade your life in my companie. Moste acceptable vnto me, is the honest inclination of your will, and your doings differ not from the kinde of acquaintaunce, nor yet seeme to be at disagréement with your fathers iudgement and opinion (who was a man of great countenaunce and reputation) concerning me. For let this be the groundworke and absolute building of your hope, that in greatnesse of Which you haue receiued of Caesars friends and assistants. benefites, they, which at times preuailed, or may yet beare away the best, are nearer vnto you then I: but in friendship, goodwill, and mutuall loue, no man my match or equall. Wherefore, as well the memorie of our acquaintance and societie, in you remaining, to me is most acceptable: and the towardnesse of your will to inlarge and establish the same, very approuable.

Fare you wel.

Cicero to Pompeio. THE ARGVMENT.

In this Epistle is contained an expostulation or reasoning▪ why Pom peius did not so much as vo •… chsafe to sende him a gratulatorie letter, that is, an Epistle of thankes, sithence the weightines •… e of suche a matter as the beating downe of Catilines conspiracie, deserued some duetie.

IF you and your armie be in health, it is well. The pleasure which I, together with al y• rest, did reape The war •… e against Mithridates being finished. in reading your letters, that you sent openly to be knowne, was incredible, & excéeding all beliefe. For therein you declared so great hope of ease and quietnesse, as I promised to all men, vpon confidence of your priuate person, the onely procurement of my bolde presumption. But thus muche vnderstande you: your olde aduersaries, nowe your newe friendes, are not only vehemently astonished with your epistle, but being quite spoyled of the great affiance wherevnto they trusted, are vtterly discomforted. Concerning that letter, which was directed and sent vnto me, although therein but a bare argument and a naked signification of your will towardes me was comprehended: yet notwithstanding, that it was pleasaunt and delectable vnto me, I woulde not haue you ignoraunt. For euerie man doth, of custome, reioyce in nothing so much, as in the certaine and assured knowledge of his friendly seruice, and dutifull pointes of courtesie. So my conscience, in that respect, ministreth vnto me plentifull delectation.

Which benefites, Hee doth quip Pompeius as vnmindfull of a benefite receiued. if they be not an one time or other, satisfied with semblable recourse of seruice, and mutual humanitie, I am well contented, that further tokens of friendly vsage, in me lye still at quiet. Of this one thing I doubt not, but that, if For Cicero made an Oration pro Lege Manilia, concerning the putting of him in charge with the Mithridaticall warre. those thinges which I haue attempted, to doe you good, had purchased but indifferent curtesie on your part the cōmon welth wold soone set vs in attonement, & establish mutuall good will betwéene vs both. But least it shoulde not be manifest vnto you, what I desire to be done in your letters I will write openly and plainely, as, both my nature moueth, and our friendship craueth. Such things haue I compassed, & brought to perfection, as deserue, (partly for our familiarities sake, and partly for the common wealthes cause) some courteous and thankful point of dutie, in writing to be testified: which I imagine to haue béene of you pretermitted, through a certaine feare to offend, least you might be thought to doe contrarie to the mynde of As Crassus or Caesar, who thought that the conspirers were not to be killed. one man or other. But be you hereof well persuaded, that whatsoeuer we haue done for the safetie and preseruation of the weale publique, the same, by the iudgement of the world vniuersall is allowed, and by common testimonie approued: whiche, at your comming Namelie, to the famous citie of Rome. hether, you shall vnderstāde, in such order to haue ben wrought, not only with much wisedome, but also with great courage and stoutnesse of stomach, that with you, a muche greater friend thē was For Scipio Africanus, and 〈◊〉 were 〈◊〉 friendes. Africanus: I, not much inferiour to For Scipio Africanus, and 〈◊〉 were 〈◊〉 friendes. Lelius, shall gladly be knit and vnited, as well in affaires touching the common wealth, as also in faithfull loue and sound friendship.

Fare you well.

Cicero to Furfano. ¶ THE ARGVMENT.

This Epistle is not brought into so notable an abridgement, as it ser ueth for a perfect patterne or example of commendation.

SO great was mine acquaintance and familiaritie with A. Caecina, that betwéene two friendes, greater could not be established. From the auncientnesse of friendship. For we vsed the companie of his father very much, a man of singular noblenesse, & speciall valliauntnesse. And I haue so loued Caecina. him from his childhoode, From the causes of frend ship. both for the great hope of honestie which in his nature appeared, and his excellent eloquence: and also for that he hath ben conuersant with me a great portion of his time, as well in exercises of friendly behauiour, as also From semblance of desires and studies. in desires, studies, & dispositions common to vs both, that I would not wish to leade my lyfe with any man From mutu all good will. more familiarly and louingly. How necessarie it is therefore, that I sée to his safetie, and haue a regards to the protection and défence of his credite, in what things so euer, to the vttermost of mine abilitie, you may, by the sum of this letter, be resolued. It remaineth, that From the cause of commendation. when I haue attained the knowledge of this by many circumstances, how your minde is affected, touching the estate of good men and vertuously disposed, and also what your meaning and intent is, concerning the calamities of the common wealth, that I request nothing at your handes, but that through the commendation of my letters, your will may leane and incline as much to Caecina (which of your owne accorde without admonition or constraint you are appliaunt to doe) for his furtherāce, as I am assured how much you make of me your frend at commaundement. Then this I estéeme nothing more precious, on your part to be performed.

Fare you well.

Cicero to Lepido. ¶ THE ARGVMENT.

He rebuketh Lepidus with much myldness •… , bicause he being adorned and aduaunced to great honour by the consent of the Senate, neglected the duetie of giuing thankes for the same. Moreouer he exhorteth him, not to medle nor make with concluding peace betweene good citizens and mischiefous Antonie.

AS the singular beneuolence, and perfect loue, whiche I beare you, kindled a great care in me for your honourable aduauncement, and noble titles of dignitie: so I am offended at your dissolutenesse, in that you haue not, for suche worthy benefites, shewed your self thankful to so curteous a Senate: sithence, frō that order sprang your préeminence. I am right glad, & can not but reioice, that you are de •… erous to procute peace betwéene the citizens: which peace if you seperate from seruitude, and so bring to passe that it smell not of bondage, and slauish subiection, the common welth shal reape profite, and your renoune shall increase by your trauel. But if this peace be like to restore a Marcus Antonius, who in the warre at Mutina, was dispossessed. desperate and mercilesse villane to the possession of a mightie dominion: then vnderstand you▪ that all men are of this opinion and mynde, to prefer deth before such a seruitude. Wherfore your doings shal be leuened with more wisedome, in my iudgement, if you intermedle not with such a mischiefous Against this peace he is maru •… llous earnest in his Philippicis. peace making, which neither the Senate alloweth, nor the people well like off, nor any honest man doth commend. But these things shal be discouered vnto you by other mens report▪ or else my letters shall certifie you of the same. In the meane space, according to the measure of your knowledge, and proportion of your policie, attempt nothing, but that whiche can not be amended. See to it, and

Fare you well.

Cicero to Torquato. THE ARGVMENT.

His minde and will was to comfort Torquatus, but bicause he wanteth matter to kindle consolation, he layth that the medicine against sorrowe and heaui •… esse, ought to bee a good and guiltlesle conscience.

IN my former letters I haue béene somewhat large, not so muche for necessitie, as for beneuolence: this prouoked me, that did not moue me: Neither stoode your In suffering aduersiti with manhoode. vertue in néede of our incouragement and supportance: Neither was myne estate and condition suche, that I should offer seruice of comfort and consolation to another, being succourlesse my self, & therfore must I vse so much the more shortnesse at this present. For whether I néeded not vse many words then or no, I sée no more cause why I should be long nowe: or whether I thought it necessarie then, to let my lines rūne in number & length: yet that which I write now is sufficient, specially, séeing I haue no newes wherof to let you vnderstād. For although one report or other sounded in our eares continually, touchingWhich are don in Spaine those things which I suppose are not from you cō cealed and kept in secrete: yet that is the summe, that is the end, scope, & marke of all, which I perceiue with my mind as manifestly, as we sée thē with our eyes externally. Neyther do I sée further in any circumstaunce then you, I am well assured. For although, no man can gesse and coniecture, what endIn the foughten fielde at Pharsalia. the skirmish, or rather the conflict, is like to haue: yet notwithstanding, I sée both the ende of the battell, and, (if that be in doubt, yet this is most certaine, for so much as one of the twaine must preuaile of necessitie) N •… melie bloudy & cru ell. Epi. •… . &. 14 lib. 6. what manner of victorie this or that is like to proue: which when I view and sée, I perceiue such to be the state therof, that no mischiefe is in likelyhood to happen hereafter, if that may chaunce before, which is suspected and feared. For so to liue, as life seemeth lothsome, is a torment most miserable: and to be discharged from feare by death, no wise man will terme wretchednesse: no not in him which is happie & fortunate. But in that Athens, whiche canne blase abroade w •… the more bewtie of wor des & brauenesse of speache, the worthinesse of your persone, then I canne paincte out with the flowers of mine Elloquence. citie is your abiding, wherein the very walles may séeme able enough to vtter these things, nay many more, and of greater excellencie. Thus much I warrant you of, my life for youres (though slender he the comfort which procéedeth from other mens miseries) that you are no whit now in the greater dan ger, then any of them which went their way frō war, or tarried still by it, some resisting, & some again fearing him which ouercame. But this consolation is of no such efficacie, as that which I hope is of you vsurped, ánd óf me not vnfrequented. For I will not vexe and molest my mynde, so long as I li •… e, in any respect, since I knowe my selfe frée from •… ffence: and if I die, my care can not be great, in so much as I shall be depriued of all sense and féeling. But he carryeth He taketh vpō him wast & needele •… labour. Owles to Athens, which 〈◊〉 his penne, in such pointes as to you are familiar. You, yours, and what so euer els toucheth you, are looked vnto of me with dayly diligence, and with speciall carefulnesse: neither will thy Cicero shew him selfe dissolute, whiles life indureth.

Fare you well.

Cicero to Oppio. ¶THE ARGVMENT.

Being prepared to make a voyage into Graecia, hee committeth the charge and tuition of his whole estate to Oppius, prefixing an enumeration or rehearsall of such benefites as he had receiued.

DOubting much in mynde, as our friende Whome he had certified oftentimes by letter of his determined voyage. Atticus doth knowe, of my whole purpose and preparation of this voyage, bycause many things offered them selues to my memorie, whereby I was drawne into varietie of opinions, as vncertaine what to attempt: your counsell séemed vnto me a great supportation, to disburthen my mynde of suche a 〈◊〉 , and your iudgement most necessarie to confirme my wauering will. For your aduise by letter giuen, was most manifest, wherein appeared, what you thought in this case: and Atticus also, made report vnto me of your wordes touching the same. I haue alwayes thought and accounted you, to be a man indued with excéeding He that giueth connsell must be wise and true. great wisdome, in ministring counsell, and adorned with that inestimable Iuell of faythfulnesse in giuing aduise: wherof I haue had principall experience, when I had recourse to your prudence, at suche time as ciuil cōmotions began to sparkle & kindle, as earnest to be instructed, what you supposed most profitable for me to take in hand, whether I were best to go to Pompeius, or tarrie stil in Italie. Your counsel in this case, was, that I should vse such prouidence, and deliberation in dealing, that my dignitie, wherof I ought to haue a speciall consideration, might not be empaired, blemished, and stayned. Wherevpon I vnderstood your meaning, and haue, not only your fayth and honestie in admiration, but your religious and vpright dealing in gining counsell, in singular reuerence: bycause, when you perceiued the will of your Caius Caesar, whome he followed in the ciuil war. most entier and best beloued friend leaning another way, yet did you not so much regard his meaning, as you made account of my profite. Mine affection hath inclined vnto you, long before this time present: and I am not ignorant of your kindnesse towardes me, alwayes testified by apparaunt tekens, both in mine absence when I was in horrible ieopardie: and also towardes mine, as I doe well remember, whome you defended, su •… oured, and mainteined. Furthermore, after my returne, and repairing home, how familiarly you lead your life in my companie, and what I haue both thought concerning your goodnesse, and blased abroade touching your worship, all men, that marke and consider well of these matters, are able with their voyces of agréement, to confirme our witnesse. You thought me your constant and faithful frend▪ although I •… tooke part with Pompeius, and you stacke to Caesars side. Your iudgement was grounded vpon great grauitie and singular assuraunce, which you gaue in commēdation of my faithfulnesse, and aduauncement of my constancie, yea it séemed, that the persuasions wherwith you were moued, to •… rie my credite, were of speciall certaintie, sithence after the death and ouerthrowe of Caesar, you doubted not to commit your selfe wholy into our friendship. Which opinion of yours, or rather iudgement, if I do not establishe with al beneuolence, courtesie, and dutifulnesse, I wil thinke my selfe no man, but a monster: As for you, frend Oppius, continue your kindnesse, and let your loue be inlarged, (although I write these words, rather for Reade the 17. Epi. of the 12. lib. a fashion, then that I presume to giue you instructions) and take the tuition of all things that belong vnto me: which least you shoulde not incompasse with knowledge, I haue committed them to the credite of Atticus. And to conclude with mine owne selfe, looke for letters of more length, & fuller of lines, when I haue obteined a little leasure. Be carefull of your health, then which you can do nothing vnto me, your friende, more acceptable.

Fare you well.

Cicero to Matio. THE ARGVMENT.

Matius made his complaint against Cicero, who charged and accused him to be an aduersarie to libertie. Cicero laboureth in his owne purgation, and that any such thing was of him committed, maketh flat denyall.

IAm Cicero calleth the selfe same Matius, a most lerned man, in his. 1 •… Epi. 7. lib. not yet sufficiently resolued, whether our Trebatius, a man full of courtesie, and one that loueth vs both excéedingly, ministred vnto me more molestation and trouble, then delectation and pleasure. For, when I came to my manour at Tusculanum, somwhat late in the euening, the next daye immediately following, early in the morning, his body being scar •… e in perfect health and soundnesse, he repaired vnto me: whome after I had rebuked, bicause he spared not his sickly body, he vttered these wordes, that there was nothing in all the world wherof he was more des •… erous, then to viewe my countenance, and to enioy my companie. Herevpon communication árose, and I demaunded of him, what newes? then did he recite vnto me your complaint in order: wherevnto before I make answere in the purgation of myne owne person, it shall not be a misse, nor impertinent to our present purpose, to make a preamble of certaine necessarie circumstaunces. So farre foorth as I am of abilitie, to call thinges past to remembrance, there is no friend more neare vnto me, then you, in consideration of An argumēt drawne from antiquitie or auncientnesse. auncientnesse. But in auncientnesse there is somewhat common with the multitude, whiche from loue is exempted. I bare you good will, on the selfe same day wherein I first knewe you, and that your good An •… rgumēt from mutuall good will. will with a certaine recourse of kindnesse vnto me confyrmed, was not weake, is manifest to my iudgement. Moreouer, your departing from vs, whiche was so much the more grieuous and lesse tollerable, as it was tyed to diuturnitie & continuance, our Bicause they hunted after honors wherin ther is emu lation and hartgrudge. ambitious disposition, y• dissimilitude of our life, & our maners wherein was no likenesse, would in no wise permit and suffer, that our wils and hearts should be lincked with lasting conuersation, and accustomed companie. Neuerthelesse, I vnderstood the inclination of your nature, and perceiued wher vnto your minde was addicted touching my person, many yeres before the ciuil tumults and vproares were a flote, whē Caesar was resident and abiding in Fraunce. For, that An argumēt from benefits & good deeds which vnto me in your opinion was maruellous profitable, and to Caesars highnesse not incommodious, you did your inde •… our to accomplishe, that he might loue me, that he might haue me in some reputation, that he, I say, might account me among the number of his fauourers. Many things I pretermit, & swallow vp, as it were, in streames of silence, which were vttered by voyce, & written with pen too & fro as An argumēt from familaritie. familiar as might be wished. For things of greater weight followed. Againe, in the beginning of the ciuil war, when you directed your iourney towards Brundisiū, intending to go to Caesar, you disdained not to come & visite me Some ferme place or manour of his owne, whether Matius curteously came to see him. in Formiano. To call in questiō first of al, how highly ought I to estéeme of this point of curtesie, being e •… hibited in those perilous times, & daungerous dayes. Besides that, thinke you that I can so lightly forget your counsel, your cōference, & your gentlenes, the sweetnesse wherof I haue tasted, & reaped the aduantage of your singular benefits? at the putting in pro •… e and practise of which premisses, Trebatius, as I remember, was present. I haue imprinted the summe of your letters in my memorie, which you sent vnto me, when I met Caesar, In Some large common, belike, so named Agro▪ as I thinke, Trebulano.

Shortly after insued by succession of time, that season of the yeare, wherin I addressed my selfe to passe a voyage to Pompeius, vnto which enterprise I was eyther by shame compelled, or by the right of dutie inforced, or else by the state of my fortune constrained. What courteous point of a friendly Gentleman, what will to my weale whiles I was absent, or loue towardes myne which were with you present, was at any time wanting or to séeke, when it should be vsed. Furthermore, I and al mine haue rested in this iudgement An argumēt from constancie and vnuariablenesse. concerning you, that vnto me you are a faithfull friende, and to them, in no respect, a foe. I came to Brundisium: thinke you that I am so obliuious, blockishe, and forgetfull, as not to remember, in what celeritie and post haste you came riding from Tarento to see me, so soone as you heard of myne arriuall? what fashion of sitting by at the same time you vsed, what communication you ministred, and howe you established my hart harrowed with heauinesse, in the feare of afflictions and miseries, the smart whereof, one with another, indifferently suffered? After many alterations of times, it came to passe yet at the length, that as lucke had alotted, our méeting was at Rome: what wanted in our fri •… ndshippe that ought to be required? In maters of great moment, and affaires of wonderfull weight, I ranne to your counsel as to a sanctuarie of succ •… ur, that by your aduise I might be instructed, in what order to vse and behaue my selfe towardes the maiestie of Caesar. As for all other points of friendly duetifulnesse, what man hath inioyed them in such ample priuilege, (Caesar besides me excepted) in that you vouched safe to come often to my manour, and refused not to spende many houres, in protracting and lengthening communication tempered with all pleasantnesse, that might be possible? Beyond the things aboue mencioned, you were the cause efficient, if you haue not forgotten, (for by your meanes I was vrged) that I wrote these 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , philosophicall discourses. After The ciuil hurlie bur •… ie and battell finished & e •… ded. the returne of Caesars maiestie, of what thing were you more carefull, then that I might growe and increase to ripenesse of familiaritie with Caesars highnesse? whiche as you attempted louingly, so you perfourmed it luckily. To what purpose pertaineth this prolonged preamble, wher •… in I •… nt to haue vsed breuitie? bycause I am in no small admiration, that you, to whome all these thinges ought to be knowne, should be so credulous and light of beliefe, as to be persuaded of me, as of an offender in those points, which are at defiance and battell bidding with our friendship. For, besides all the circumstaunces whereof I haue made a repetition, being very euident, playne, and apparaunt, I haue sundrie other particularities, and speciall thinges, manifolde in déede, but yet not so manifest, which I am not able in words to comprehend, nor to d •… liuer to your capacitie by mine vtterance. Whatsoeuer is in you, or belonging to you, is so farre f •… om m •… ing▪ any 〈◊〉 , that in them I plant my chiefest pleasure. But princip •… lly and aboue al other ornaments and possessions of inestimable value, both the singular faithfulnesse where with your friendship is sealed, your counsell, grauitie, 〈◊〉 , vnuariablenesse, and noble nature also •… ight with pleasantnesse, humanitie and gentlenesse, your •… éete letters leuened with loue, delight me excéedingly. Wherfore I will nowe plucke off this plaister, lay the wounde wide open, and returne to your complaints. His answere of purgation to the intented complaint of Matius. First I answere this: I gaue no credite, neither was I brought to beleue that you yealded your consenting voyce to the law wherof you w •… te: Beside that, if I had beléeued so muche, I would haue considered, that you would neuer haue so done, without some necessarie cause and iust prouocation. He turneth a discommoditie to commē •… tion. Suche is your dignitie, such is your renoune, that whatsoeuer you attempt and goe about, it is noted, marked, & obserued: On the other side, the maliciousnesse of men is so ripe & cankared, that some things be far worsse reported, thē they were by you practised. These things if you refuse to heare & to ponder, I am to séek what •… o say in mine owne defence. For certainly, if any thing so •… nde in mine eares effensiuely spoken in the dispraise of your person, I am no lesse earnest to maintaine your quarell, •… gainst your enimies: then you haue ben wont to protect me, from the iniurious dealing of mine aduersaries. But to 〈◊〉 further of d •… fence I say this, that it is diuided into two sortes: For some things there be Epi. 10. li. 10 which of custome I shake off with a manifest negation, as for example, in this suffrage or voyce of consent: other some which I will confesse and vphold, to be done of you, with no lesse religion and godlinesse, then with humanitie and gentlenesse, as in •… uerséeing games, pageants & exercises. But you can not be ignorāt, whom I know to be very learned, * if Caesar were in possession of principalitie and ruled as king, that your behauiour and vsage may be discour s •… d vppon, two sundry wayes after a double order: eyther that your faythfulnesse deserueth commendation, and your courtes •… e admiration, for so muche as the loue which you shewed to your •… riente, was not only manifest in the time of his life, but apparant also after his death: or else after this sorte, Which peraduenture Ci cero him selfe delighted in. that that libertie of a mans naturall countrie, which diuers do imbrace, is to be preferred before the life of his friend. Concerning these points, I wold you had the per •… of my disputations. As for these two circumstaunces, which are, as it were, the two •… aine proppes of your praise, who 〈◊〉 more willingly, or more often then I, hath giuen aduott •… ements touching your person, both that you were So hee doth write to A •… ticus. He was al ways thought to be authour of qui •… tnesse. an earnest procurer that ciuil warre shoulde not be taken in hande, and also a diligent labourer, for the inoderation of the victorie? wherein I 〈◊〉 no man which a •… ented not to me. Wherfore I thanks my •… amiliar friend Trebatius heartily, by whose meanes occasion of inditing this Wherin con sisteth my pn •… gation. Epistle was offered, whervnto, if you do not giue credit, you shal iudge me voide of all friendly behauiour, and des •… itute of all humanit •… e: then which nothing can be more grieuo •… s vnto my nature, nor more 〈◊〉 to your manners.

Fare you well.

Matius to Cicero. THE ARGVMENT.

The excusation of Ma •… us both for him self and also against his ma •… accuso •… .

GReat He testisieth his good will towards Cicero. ▪ was the pleasure whiche did redound to me, by reading of your letters: bycause I vnderstande that you haue conceiued the same opinion concerning me, whiche I hoped and wished: whereof, although I did not labour in doubt, and trauell in vncertaintie: yet notwithstanding, bycause I had it in great price & estimation, I did what I could, that it might be in •… olable and continuall. As for me, in conscience I am well assured, that nothing is of me committed, which might offend or stir any man to stomache: and muche lesse did I beléeue, that you, being one, whome nature hath bea •… tified, with manifolde and precious ornaments, and Art also polish •… d with goodly perfections, coulde vpon temeritie and rashnesse, •… e persuaded to thinke amisse of me, specially, •… ithence you are the man towardes whom my good will hath not only leaned, but lasted, not only inclined, but continued. And for so much as I perceiue the case standeth as I would, I wil answere to such criminal causes, as you in my behalfe, resisted of your singular goodnesse: a •… d as it was méete, for the acquaintance wherein we are lincked and yoaked. For I am not ignorant what they haue burthened me withall, since the death of Caesar. They An obiectiō. count it a thing worthy of reproche, that I take the death of a very friendly Gentleman so grieuously, that I am greatly disquieted and out of patience, that he whom I loued is spoyled of his life. For say they: A mans countrie is to be preferred before friendship: as though victorie were alreadie theirs, and that Caesars death had béene aduauntage to the common wealth. But I will not deale frau •… ulently nor deceitfully. I am not ashamed to confesse mine vnskilfulnesse, and to acknowledge that I haue not* The confutation. yet clymed vp to this step of wisdome. For I did not followe Caesar in the ciuil dissention and tumulte: yet neuerthelesse, although I was offended at the Ciuil warre he meaneth. enterprise, I was loath to forsake my friende: neither did I at any time so alowe suche kindes of insurrections, or so well like of the cause of commotion and bloudie battel, but that my desire •… ath béen earnest, and my labour readie, He was the author that ciuil war was not taken in hand but stayed. to suppresse them in their infanci •… , and vtterly to extinguish and quench them whiles they were in kindling. Wherfore, in the victorie, and triumph of a Gentleman, whom I liked and loued, the swéetnesse of honour did not allure mée, the gréedines of monie did not insnare me, neither was I be witched with brauerie of promotion: which pensions & rewards, other that were not so déepely, as I was, in his highnes fauour, excessiuely, & weout al regard of moderation abused. Furthermore my goodes, possessions, & maintenance of mine house, was diminished and impaired, by the force of Of whic •… lawe, read the third book o •… commentaries of ciuil warres. a Lawe which Caesar enacted, ratified, and proclaimed: by the benefite wherof, the greatest number of them that reioyce in the ouer throwe and deathe of Caesar, haue made their continuance in the Citie. After that the Citizens were vanquished & ouercome, to the intent that they might taste the swéetnesse of He was t •… authour that moderation of the victorie was not neglected. parcialitie, and not be dealt withall rigorously, I ioyned my minde & my might together, as precisely for their supportation, as for safegard of mine own life. These circumstances considered, I may thus conclude: Is it possible that I, whose wil was to haue all liue, and none goe to wracke, should not be muche moued in hart, and pinched with perturbations, for his death, of whom that incomparable and moste gracious déede was obteined? s •… thence these men did not onely swel with the poison of enuie against him, but also sought his destruction and ouerthrowe. Punishment therfore is thy pension (say they) sithēce thou wast so saucie, as to finde fault with our doings. O vnspeakeable arrogancie: O pride incōparable, the like report wherof neuer pearced into the eares of any people: Adescriptiō of them that slewe Caesar, and of himselfe, comprehended▪ in this clause. that some in practising foule offences, should be so vainglorious, and other againe contrariwise, may not be suffered to shewe themselues gréeued, but must be pinched therefore, & extréemely molested. Those things wherin they would haue me restrained, are not denied to thē that liue in a seruile condition, they may be feareful they may be ioyful, they may be gréeued, they may be comfor ted, they may hope, they may despaire, & all with libertie of will, as not hauing their mindes in any mans subiection: all which priuileges of a curteous nature, those same authors & captaines of liberty, as they terme themselues, do what they can to wrest and wring from vs by the torments of terrour. But lost is their labour, and their toyle to none effecte: the feare of no daunger shal at any time so possesse my hart, that there vpon should insue a diminution and empairing to duetiful courtesie: neither wil I yeald so farre to the inuasions of feare, as to reuolt & start back frō my professed humanitie. For, honest death I neuer thought to be auoided, but often & earnestly So are the woordes set down in three auncient copies: and not to be susteined, as in some bookes it is imprinted. to be desired. But why shold they spue against me their spiteful stomaches if I wishe but this, yt they might repent thēselues of their déed? For I desire yt the death of Caesar may disburse vnto al, a bait of bitternesse, But I ought of dutie, sithence the part of a Citizen so requireth, wish wel to the common estate, and to be touched with regard for the safe tie of the same: which thing, for so much as my former trade of life, and my hope whiche remaineth, are sufficient confirmations that I earnestly •… esire, it is not for me to craue libertie of spéeche, and with wordes to ouercome the matter.

Wherefore, I beséech you most hartily, to preferre the thing it self, before bare talke, & to make more account of the very purpose, then of report by tounge: & credite me, there can be no felowship betweene me, and them that bee of corrupt conuersation and stained manners. Should I (to touche suche thinges as I haue aduentured in my lustie youth, Somewhat it to be graun ted to the degree of yeres. when I might swarue with sufferaunce, offend and yet be pard •… ned, doe amisse and be counted excusable) should I, I say, recant now in mine aged years, shold I make a mutation or change of that which is past, and as it were begin a new webbe? I will not do so: neither will I commit any thing, which might séeme scrupulous and offensiue: the gréeuous chaunce onely, of a man whom I loued excéedingly, of a man (I say) in superioritie and highest place of honour, doth moue me to mourning: And if so be, that I had béen otherwise affected, I would not haue •… loode in contradiction and deniall of that, whiche I haue done: least I should be iudged a naughtie & lewd felow in offending, & a timorous & vain varlot in dissembling. An obiectiō against him. But those plaies, pageants, & shewes of victorie, which Caesar procured to be made and published, fel into my charge, and ordering. His confuta •… ion. What then, that pertained to the office of a priuate per s •… n, and not to the state of th •… weale publique: whiche duesie notwithstanding, I was bound to sée performed, as wel for a memorial of our perfect frendship, as also for the exhibiting of deserued honor vnto him after he was intumbed: & finally to so passing a Vnderstanding Caesar. young Gentleman, in whom especiall hope was reposed, what could I else doe, then conforme and fashion my will, to the satisfying of his requestes? Moreouer, I repaired oftentimes to the house of Consul Anthonie, for sa •… utation & courteous gréeting sake: vnto whome, suche as 〈◊〉 me to be an aduersarie to my countrie naturall, had •… ten recourse, (I will not say, but seldome:) either to aske that wh •… ch was another mans right, or else to pray vpō that which was none of their owne. But what arrogancie is this? An argument from the lesse to the greater: By Caesars permission, I vsed their com panie whom •… he counted hi •… enimies: you will not •… uffer me to loue where I list. Caesar gaue me leaue to deale with whom I would, yea although he bare them little loue and affection, yet notwithstanding, he did not restraine me from vsing their companie: and why then should they that haue taken away my freende, iarringe, and snarring at me like dogs, labour with tooth & na •… le, to inclose me within certaine limites, to the intent that my loue might not haue libertie to lodge where it liketh? But I am sufficiently warranted, that the modestie of my life, shalbe of great force, to suppresse their false rumors, & also, that they which are at defiance with mée, for my constancie towardes Caesar, wil find in the end, that it is more auailable for them, to prouide such frēds as are like me, namely, officious in the vtter most point of •… urtesie, requirable: then like them selues, inconstant, vaine, lightheaded and variable. As for me, if I may enioy the fulnesse of my desyres, the residue of my lyfe will I* Which wa •… a free Citie. Ep. 7. Lib. 4. lead in Rhodes, where I may possesse peace & quietnes. But if I be intercepted with some finister chaunce, I wil so be resident in Rome, as I may wishe and will, to be free from annoyance. To our trustie friend Trebatius, I giue great thanks, in that he hath not concealed from vs your kindenes, but reuealed the faithfulnesse of your loue vnto vs in séemely maner: & for that also, by his procurement it is brought about, that to him, whom I always loued from my very hart, I sée iust cause of further dutifulnesse & reuerence to be perfourmed.

Fare you well

Cicero to Allieno. ¶ THE ARGVM •… NT.

This Epistle is petitorie, for he craueth courtesie of Allienns, de •… iring him to receiue Democritus Sicyonius into •… is fauour and protection.

DEmocritus Sicyonius is not only my friendly interteiner, but also (a thing seldome and straunge among many, the Graecians specially,) a man ful of familiarite and courteous acquaintance. For there is in him singular honestie, excellent vertue, passing liberalitie towardes straungers, and plenti •… of reuerend behauiour: Moreouer, he preferreth me, before all other, in dueties of humanitie, gentlenesse, amitie, & kindnesse. This Allienus, as it shold seem was lord Praesident of Sicilia, as may bee coniectured by the circumstances of the. 79. Ep. lib. 13. whom Oppius in his boke treating of war •… in Afri ca, calleth som time by the name of Prae •… or, and sometime by the •… ame of Pro •… onsul. You shall vnderstand that he hath principall rule not only ouer his owne people, but that the whole Prouince of Achaia also, is in his iurisdiction. I am bould to make an entraunce for this Gentleman to your honour, that he might knowe you, and that you with him might be acquainted. I am assured, that whē you vnderstand of his person and vsage throughly, you will of your owne accord, wtout suggestion of others, (such is the goodnes of your nature) iudge him a man worthie of your fauour, friendship, and entertainment. My petition and request therfore vnto you, is, that this letter being read and considered, it would please you to receiue him in to your protection, and make promise vnto me in his behalfe, to do what may be done, for my sake. To conclude, if you once perfectly knowe (as I hope it is like none otherwise to come to passe,) that his worthinesse deserueth your courtesie: I beséeche you to make muche of him, to loue and like him, and to reckon him in the number of your fréendes. Thus if you do, you shall gratifie me highly, and do him an excéeding great pseasure.

Fare you wel.

Cicero to Planco. THE ARGVMENT.

He writeth of the determination of the Senate, not disagre •… ing from owne sentence, that the dignitie of Planeus might be augmented, & his honour inlarged. Finally, he addeth an exhortation of valiauntnesse, willing Plancus to perseuer in resistence against Anthonie, till such time as all the sparkles of his furie in battell be extinguished, and vtterly quenched.

I Had no sooner gotten opportunitie to inlarge your honour, but I pretermitted nothing, which might make for your aduauncement, either in consideration of the recompence of vertu •… , or in respecte of the worship that might be ministred by wordes. This to be no vntruth, you may vnderstand, by the determination of the Senate: For so was it enacted, and by authoritie confirmed, as I in writing gaue information, and in woordes vttered mine owne sentence: which the full court, and a •… emblie of Senatours, were so farre from dissalowinge, that thereunto with earnest desire & large graunts, they condescended. And although I perceiued by your letters which you sent mée, that the iudgment of good men, was to your greater delectation, then Which by the decree of the Senate were graūted. the ensignes and ornamēts of renowne in your expectation: yet, I thought that it was our dueties to ponder and weighe, how déepely the common wealth is growne in your debte, for your meritorious and wel deseruing behauiour, albeit you required nothing in the way of reward. Procéede you still as you haue begonne, and let your Bring that battel to an end, which the Consuls haue, for the most part, discomfited. last assaults be answerable to your first attempts. For hée that shall giue Anthonie the ouerthrowe, and fell his force flat vnder foote, shall in like manner bring that battel to an end. Wherefore Ilias. 4, Homere named not A •… ax nor Achilles 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 that is to say a conquerour of cities: but assigned that title to venturous Vlysses.

Fare you well.

Cicero to Planco. THE ARGVMENT.

He commendeth Plancus for his assistaunce and speedie succour in the behalfe of the common wealth employed: giueth him counsell, to pursue Anthonie to Mutina, and by all meanes 〈◊〉 to procure •… is destruction.

O Ioyfull report, and most acceptable rumour, which was scatered abroade two dayes before At Mutina, when 〈◊〉 was put to flight. the victorie was obteined, concerning your assistaunce, your fortifications, your earnestnesse, your expedition, your spéedinesse, and the courage of your souldiers. So that now, our enemies being vanquished and vtterly put to flight, al hope in you is harboured, all confidence and assurance in your dealing reposed. For it is noysed abroad, that the most notable and principall ringleaders, of those rebellious robbers, and trayterous varlots, haue forsaken the foughten field, and being vnable, any longer to encounter, haue taken flight from Mutina. Therefore it is no lesse cōmodious to digge vp the rootes, then to cut off the small sprigs: and as commendable to pearce to the bone, as to pare the skinne: and as great puisaunce and prowesse, to take triall of the vttermost hazard, as of the formost aduenture: and as much praise due to constancie, to wounde him to the death, as to draw out a weapon. I looked for your letters, and the letters of many more besides: I was in hope also that Lepidus would remember, In present danger: which compelleth good and true harted citizēs, to fight in the defēce of their countr •… e. in these tumultes and stormes of the weale publique, to ioyne his power with your strength, whereby hée might satisfie the expectation of the cōmon wealth. Labour to the vttermost (friend Plancus) and thinke no kinde of trauel too tedious, that not so much as one litle sparckle of that outragious, cruel, and most mischiefous warre remaine vnquenched. Which thing if your wisedome and manhoode may compasse, you shall bestowe vppon the common wealth, a heauenly benefite, and you shall purchase to your owne person, euerlasting renowne. The third of the Ides of Maie.

Fare you well.

Plancus to Cicero. ¶ THE ARGVM •… NT.

This Epistle maketh mencion of the preparation which hee made to ouerthrowe A •… honie.

I Thought that it was not impertinent to your personne, nor to the common estate, by these letters which I haue written, to vnderstand such thinges, as in processe of time haue chaunced. * My di •… igence, and circumspect dealing, hathEpi. 20. lib. 10. (as I hope) beene to my selfe a commoditie, and to the weale publique an aduauntage. For I ceased not to send poastes to Lepidus daily, that, all contention cancelled and cut in sunder,Epist. 2. 18. & 21. lib. 10. and* a recōciliation of both our willes obteined, his helpe ioyned to mine, and mine aide lincked vnto his, hée with mee, and I with him, might defend the common wealth, from the inuas •… on of aduersaries: and that hée should not so much thinke vppon one Because in the conflict at Mutina, Anthoni •… was discomfi •… ed. vile rascall, and contemptible outcaste, as on his priuate reputation, his children, affinitie, frendes, and naturall countrie. Wherein, if hée condescended to doe so, as hée was desired, hee might turne my seruice to his owne aduauntage, in all thinges whatsoeuer. My request, was not voide in this case: for by Laterensis oure messinger passing betwene vs too and fro, I preuailed in my purpose: insomuch that the matter growing to this perfection, hée gaue mée his faith, trueth, and honestie, that hée would pursue and resist Anthonie in battel, if hée could not kéepe him out of his prouince: besides this, hée besought mée to come & ioyne the aide of both our armies together, wherof hée was somuch y• more des •… rous & earnest, for that Anthonie was reported to haue a great power of horsemen, & Lepidus had no such troupe in a redines prepared. For not many dayes age, although smal & slender were his whole number: yet notwithstanding, ten •… e of the best and chiefest of his horsemen, came ouer vnto mée: of which things I being not ignorant, made no prolōging nor lingering excuses, but thought forth with, that Lepidus in y• Whiles hee thoughte wel of the cōmon wealth & his countrie. commendable course of his good and wel disposed counsels, was greatly to be furthered & assisted. What profite did depend vpon my setting forward, I perceiued presently: either because I might pursue & vanquish his troupe of horsemen with mine: or else, because by the presence of mine hoast, I might correct & drawe to obedience, y• part of Lepidus his armie, which is Or, whiche is corrupted withe bribes and rewarde •… to assiste Anthonie. skarse sound, & reuolted frō the cōmon wealth. Wherefore, a bridge being made ouer Plinie compareth Isara to Rhodanus, lib. 3. cap. 4. Isara that great floud, which is néere the borders of the Allobroges, in one dayes space, thorough my procurement, I and my souldiers passed ouer to the other side, the fourth of the Ides of Maie. Now, when I was infourmed, that L. Anthonie, was sent before, with the aide of certaine horsemen and footemen, and so came to Forum Iulij: I sent my brother strengthened with the power of foure thousand horsemen, the first day before the Ides of Maie to méete him: I my selfe accompanied with There is mē cion made of fiue logions, Epist. 8. lib. to of foure. Epist. 13. lib. 11. foure swfte and spéedie legions, and the horsemen which I haue remayning, intende to take vppon vs the tracing thorough tedious iourneyes, and forthwith to followe after, if our fortune bée but so so, indifferent (I meane) in the behalfe of the weale publique: then shall wée both beate downe the bouldnesse of those desperate conspiratours, and finde an end also of carefulnesse. Moreouer, if that pestilēt spoiler, hauing premonishmēts and forewarnings of our comming, shall beginne to retire and drawe backe into Italie, it shalbe * Brutus Decimus Brutus, praesident of Gallia Cisalpina, nowe called Lumbardie. his charge to méete him, whom I know to flourishe in wisedome, counsel, and policie: and to want neither courage, puisaunce, nor valliauntnesse. Howbeit, if that chaunce come to passe, I will sende my brother with horsemen well •… rouided, to followe after, and to defend Italie from violence. Sée that you neglecte not your health, and as I loue you, so loue mée againe.

Fare you well.

Cicero to Ligario. ¶ THE ARGVMENT.

•… ee writeth that hee is in hope of Ligarius safetie: to the obteyninge whereof hee promiseth all the helpe that hee canne procure: in the meane space hee exhorteth Ligarius, to take his froward fortune & vntoward luck with moderation and patience.

ALthough it behoued mée, in this This is the same Ligarius in whose behalfe Cicero made his oration, bearing title, pro Q. Ligario. your time of trouble, to write somewhat vnto you▪ according to the qualitie of our acquaintance, either by way of consolation, that you might not be comfortlesse: or by way of assistaunce, that you might not be succourlesse. Yet, hetherto, I haue not accomplished that point of courteous duetie: because I perceiued that woordes and sentences could not preuaile, against your pensifenesse, which was vnappeasable, nor diminish any part of the same, it was so indurable. In processe of time, when hope began to beare blossoms abundantly, that the day was approching, wherin we should haue the presence of your person, in health and prosperitie: I could no longer bridle the secrete motions of my mind, but néedes must declare vnto you my determination, & discouer the whole summe of my counsell. I will therefore write that vnto you, whereof I haue a sealed warrant, namely, that the anger and displeasure of Caefar against you, will hereafter be assuaged. For, to tell the plaine truth, both the matter it selfe, the day, the opinion of people, and (as I gather by sundrie apparaunces) the inclination of his owne proper nature, allure him to gentlenes and clemencie: which to bée as I say, not onely the estate of other, ministreth mée occasion to presuppose, but the reports of his néerest friends, and Gentlemen he meaneth of Caesars neerest acquaintance, such in déede as with him are most familiar, persuade mée that you are towards the attainement of Grace with his highnesse. Unto whom, since the time that Concerning Pompeius cō plices, vanquished in Africa. newes came first out of Africa, I together with your brethren, intermitted no opportunitie, to put in practise the parts of Suppliaunts: whose vertue, integritie, vprightnesse, loue and constancie towards you being incomparable and singular, besides that, their carefulnesse for your safetie, being planted vppon perpetuitie and continuance, were so forceable and pithie, that there is no kinde of thing, which Caesars highnesse, Without the mediation, or intreataunce •… of any person. of his owne accord, wil not graunt and giue of his frée bountie: & if our petition be somewhat later obteined, then wée would, the cause thereof, is to be ascribed to his great and earnest affaires, of whom all things are required with submission, which haue made harder accesse to his highnesse, so that wée might not at will, vse his gracious goodnesse. And besides his busie matters, Africa hath incensed and kindledBecause thei had renued warre. his anger, insomuch that hée séemeth, of purpose, to worke their disquietnesse, whom he perceiueth thoroughly bent, to frame his continuall vexation. But wée vnderstand, that hée in a storme, is somewhat calme: against madnesse, marcheth with mildnesse: & is pight with patience against inconuenience. Wherfore, giue credite to my words, and repose this report in y• cosket of your memorie, that you shal not remaine long in these troubles, sithence they are like to haue their limitation. When Whē I haue shewed that which I mislike not. Epist. 10. lib. 5. I haue declared that which is hidden in my thought, it resteth behind, that, of the towardnesse of my wil to doe you pleasure, my deedes rather then my wordes, giue a testimonie. And if I could accōplish so much, as I might challeng of duetie in that cōmonwealth, wherein my merits (as you hold opinion) are not only manifest but also manifold, you should be soone deliuered frō these discōmodities & daungers. For the selfe same cause hath bene a canckar to my Dignitie, renowne, worship & estate. wealth & estate, which hath béene a plague to your health and safetie. Neuerthelesse, what courtesie so •… euer, the image & representation of mine auncient dignitie, what duetifulnes soeuer, fauour may afford, and friendship comprehend, my labour, my counsel, my desire, my furtheraunce, and my faithfulnesse, shalbe at the commaundement of your good brethren in euery respect. Sée that your hart bée couragious, as becōmeth a man: let it be now, as it hath bene alwayes in times past, first for the causes which in writing I haue mencioned: secondly, because you haue béene so well affected towards the weale publique, as, that you may, not only at this instante, hope When you vnderstande that there is hope of safetie. prosperously to flourish: but also, thoughe you were drowned and vtterly ouerwhelmed, with the waues of aduersitie, yet thorough ye comfort of conscience, knowing that your meaning hath béene vertuous, & your doings cōmendable, to weare out al tempests whatsoeuer, with a manfull courage.

Fare you well.

Cicero to Trebiano. THE ARGVMENT.

He is verie glad of Trebianus his returne into his countrie, by suite at length obteined: he exhorteth him to blot thinges past out of the booke of his remembraunce, and to preferre the recouering of his dignitie, before the losse of his priuate goods and substance.

IN time past, I did only fauourCicero his sonne in law. Epi. 16. lib. 2. & 13. lib. 8. Dolabella, being bound vn to him in no respect of duetie, for there was no cause of necessitie to exhibite such seruice: but he oweth vnto me duetie and reuerence, for that I was vnto him, a present refuge & defence, in his great Whereof mencion is made, Epi. 10. lib. 3. daungers. Now, through y• recourse of a late singular benefite, issuing from his humanitie & gentlenes, I am so streigtly tyed to his courtesie, because y• before, in the matter it selfe, and at this instant also, he hath satisfied me so plentifully, touching your safetie, that I know none, to whom I am déeper in debt, for such bounteous deserts. For which thing, I reioyce in your behalf exceedingly, y• I had rather you should shew your selfe glad in heart, then Because the suite concerning your safe tie, was obteined by the meanes of my sonne in lawe, made to Caesars highnes. to giue thankes vnto me for your good luck: the one of which I desire in no respect, the other you may wel do, without doubt of vncertaintie. Concerning that which remaineth, when by your vertue & worthinesse, free passage is made for you, to returne to your friends & acquaintance: your wisedome must so moderate and rule you, and the valiiantnes of your nature must be so effectual, that you ought to forget that, which you haue lost, & thinke with your selfe what you haue recouered. You shal lead your life in ioy among your acquaintance: you shall be in the companie of vs your fauourers: more dignitie by many degrées haue you atchieued, then all y• priuate wealth can counteruaile, wherof you are dispossessed: which notwith standing would affoord you the greater pleasure and delight if there were any state of a commonwealth. Puteolanus, of whō somewhat is spokē in the Epistles Ad Atticum oftentimes. Vestorius, our familiar friend, wrote vnto mee, that you gaue me infinite thankes: this report vnto me is meruailous acceptable: and I giue you good leaue to vse it, both in the presence of other persons, and in the hearing of Siro also, your friend and my welwiller. For those thinges that we doe, our meaning is to haue them throughly approued & allowed, of such men as are indued with most wisedome, and grounded vpon the soundest iudgment. My desire is to sée you as soone as might bée.

Fare you well.

Cicero to Trebiano. THE ARGVMENT.

This epistle conteineth an excus •… of his not writing: it conteineth also a consolation: finally, it conteineth a promise of good luck and fortunate successe, with a briefe memorandum of his owne duetifulnesse.

LOng since would I haue directed my letters vnto you, if mine inuention could haue ministred any matter, wherin my penne might haue béene occupied. For in In aduersitie when fortune is not fauourable. such a time as this is, the courtesie of Epi. 13. lib. 6. friends craueth the benefite, either of comforting, or else of promissing. I did not comforte you, because mine eares were ful of many rumours, concerning your puissaunce, and your prudence, which arme you sufficiently against y• iniuries of these troublesome seasons: and be •… ause the conscience and secrete knowledge of your owne studies and attemp •… s replenished your heart with perfect consolation. Which thing if you doe (as I heare) the The profite of good & ho nest desires, is chiefly-obteined in calamitie. reuenues of your vertues wilbe inualuable: wherein I am assured, your exercise consisteth: and to that rule and direction to leuell all your doinges, I exhort you earnestly. Furthermore, vnto you, a man absolutely furnished with the knowledge By dealing in matters, noting examples, and searching the kno ledge of antiquities, wee waxe learned. of many matters and examples, and in all manner of antiquities thoroughly instructed, I▪ not vtterly ignoraunt and vnskilfull, thoughe in desire, peradue •… ture somewhat lesse occupied, yet in thinges themselues and in their triall, somewhat more conuersant then I would, make this comfortable promise, that these bitter bruntes, and iniurious déedes which you suffer, shall not long continue. For, euen his owne person, who is of abilitie & power to preuaile most, séemeth vnto mée, daily more inclined to equitie, and to the Which is, that one man should assiste, helpe and loue another. nature of things in their succession: and such is the kinde of your cause, that, together with the commonwealth, which cannot lie in ruine perpetually, and vnrepaired, it must of necessitie, as it were raeuiue, quicken againe, and recouer the former per •… ections: Moreouer, somthing is made more milde, gentle and liberall, than we, through feare, suspected. All whiche premisses, for so much as they depend often vpon th •… alterations of seasons, and chaunges of times: wee will marke euery moment, not pretermitting any opportunitie, whereby you may be (by our meanes) succoured, and assisted. Wherefore, that other kinde of letters, which I haue spoken of before, shalbe (as I hope) more easie and readie, to doe mée seruice continually, that I may be bolde to make promise vn to you of that, whiche in déedes rather, then in wordes, may be perfourmed. I would haue you to be in this beléefe, that you haue more fréendes and fauourers, then are in subiection to this your present chance, or euer haue béen in times past, so farre as I am able to vnderstand: vnto, Meaning that his friēdship should surmount all others. not so muche as one of them all, purpose I to giue place. Sée that you haue a manly and valiant hart, which in you is not wanting: As for suche things as are in the dominion of Fortune, they shalbe gouerned by obseruations of seasons, We will aide and support you so farre forth a •… mans counsel is able. For all thinges that chaunce cannot be auoided. and prouided by the assistance of our counsells.

Cicero to Trebiano. ¶ THE ARGVMENT.

He promiseth whatso •… uer he can do to the vttermoste of his power, that Trebianus may be set clear •… from danger: and sheweth him some hope, of better fortune hereafter.

HOw I estéeme of you at this instant, how I haue accounted of your person in times past, and how much you haue et by my fréendship, I my selfe am a witnesse sufficient. For your counsell, or rather your chance, to remaine longer in ciuil warres, was alwayes vnto me Because I haue euermore well a •… counted of your perso •… . a great grée •… e: and this your infortunate lucke, for that the restitution of your renoune, is delayed and put off longer, then by equitie séemeth tollerable, or then I in hart haue earnestly desired, the care thereof pearceth into my minde, no lesse violently, then my chaūces were •… graffed in yours, when I was in the like extremitie. Wherfore, Postumulenus and Sextius, Atticus also our familiar fréend, & next vnto him Theudas your frée •… an, haue vnderstoode my meaning, manifestly: yea to al and euery of them, I haue affirmed seuerally, and oftentimes protested religiously, that I am kindled with a certain kindenes, both towardes you and •… our children, in any thing whatsoeuer, to satifie your •… illes with my seruice. Wherof, I would haue you certifie such as tender your person, that they in like manner may be assured, that all my The like course of wordes are to be found Ep▪ 14. lib. 6 duetie, diligence, counsell, abilitie, faithfulnesse, substaunce, & else whatsoeuer, is alwaies readie, and at hand for their benefite and furtherance. If I can compasse so muche by mine owne authoritie, or by the fauour and good countenance of other my well willers, as of duetie I might, in that common wealth, wherein my merites and desarts are not vnsealed nor vntestfied: then should you in short space, be the same man, whiche in times past you haue ben, namely in highest degrée of 〈◊〉 , & prince also of your honorable order. But in so much as, each 〈◊〉 •… s were at one time, and for Because we folowed Po •… peius. one cause subiect to semblable lucke: I do both promise you those things which in writing I haue aboue mentioned, remaining vnto me as mine own, by vse and possession: & those things also which I séeme otherwise besides to reteine, as fragments and portions of mine auncient dignitie. For Caesar himselfe, as I coniecture and gather by many circumstances, hath not against vs conceiued displeasure, as his aduersaries: and al those Gentlemen who with his person are moste familiar, being, For I had no suche foresight, wherby I might make means in time to vse the benefite of their help, if in time to come, I should stand in neede. by a certaine chance, bound vnto mée, through the great duties of courtesie, which of olde I exhibited, to their contentation, fauour me greatly and vse me very reuerently. Wherefore, if I can do any thing touching your estate, that is, in the behalfe of your safetie, wherin al things else do cousist, as I grow in hope day by day, through sundrie reportes whiche I heare: I will take a proofe of mine ow •… e power: & what mine abilitie can cōprehend, I wil boldly put in aduenture. It shall not néede to stuffe my letter with particularities: take this for a general conclusion: All my studie, all my beneuolence, all the meanes that I can make, is as your owne, to gratifie you, & at your pleasure, to doe you seruice. But I am very desirous, & I take it to be a thing much touching my person, that all your fréendes vnderstand mine intent & purpose, which by your letters, as a moste conuenient & fit instrument, may be accōplished, namely, that The like clause is vsed in the 11. Epi. of the firste booke, where he writeth to Vatinius. what soeuer is said and thought to be Ciceroes, the same also is due to Trebianus, fréely and at will to vse. Thus muche haue I signified, to the end that they might be well assured, nothing to be wrapped in such difficulties, but the same, being for your sake attempted, shall appeare vnto you most pleasaunt and comfortable.

Fare you well.

Uatinius to Cicero. ¶THE ARGVMENT.

Vatinius being sent into Illyricum, at the commaundement of •… aesar Dictator, commendeth his dignitie and honour •… ble estate, to his friend Cicero, that he might defend the same from the slaunderous impeachementes of •… alicious and spiteful persons.

IF you are in health, it is well: I am in health. If you kéepe your accustomed order, in prosequuting •… he parte of a patron •… , P. Vatimus your client cōmeth vnto you, as standing in néed of your present defence, and desirous to committee the handling of his cause vnto your wisedome: you wil not (I thinke) reiecte him in honour, whom you receiued in danger. As for me, vnto whom shold I make accesse, vnto whō should I appeal, but vnto him? He maketh a gappe to his good will, by ripping vppe to remembrance, a bene fite, receiued •… ▪ of which bene fite: Valerius, Max. lib. 4. Cap. 2. through whose tuitiō I haue learned the attainement of victorie? What, should I feare I waxe faint, y• hée which for the tendering of my safetie, passed not a point for the conspiracie of such as were of most power & puisance, wil not now, in the maintenance of mine honour, beat down the spiteful spéeches of vile abiects, & tread vnder féete, their enuious slaunders? Wherfore, if, as you were wont, you loue mée: then take vpon you the whole charge of mine estate, and thinke with your selfe, that this burthen, what soeuer it be, must néedes be laid vpon your shoulders, least my renoune runne against rockes, and so suffer shipwracke. You are not ignoraunt, that my fortune (I can not tell by what meanes) doeth hardly escape the baytes of backebiters, my behauiour hathe not deserued, any such doggishe dealing: but makes it any great matter, sithence it commeth to passe, I know not by what destenie? If there be any, that peraduenture, wil be quarelling at our dignitie, to blemishe and empaire it, I beséeche you to continue your accustomed courtesie, and liberall nature, in defending me whiles I am absent. The letters whiche I sent vnto the Senate, concerningIn Dalmatia. our affaires, I haue exemplified, and hereunder set downe, point by point, that you might not be vncertified. It is reported to me, that your clearke or Secretarie, hath plaide the fugitiue or runnagate, and is among the Vardeies: Touching whō, I had frō you no speciall precept: Neuerthelesse, I haue out cōmaundement before hand, that inquisition should be made after him both by Land and Sea: and vndoubtedly, I will finde him out, that you may be at quiet, except he hath taken flight intoThe name Dalmatia is deriued of the •… itie Daimnium, as Strabo •… ith. Lib. 7. Dalmatia, from whence (notwithstanding he lurk for a season) we intend to hunt him out, at one time or another. It shalbe your part to loue vs still.

Fare you well. Dated, the. 5. of the Ides of Iulie: from Narona where I am incamped.

Cicero to Uatinio. THE ARGVMENT.

•… e giueth signification of his good will, as wel towardes the wife of Vatinius, as also towards Vatinius his owne person: Moreouer, he requesteth him, in no wise to faile, but to sende home againe his runnagate seruaunt Dionysius.

THat my dueties of courtesie are wel accepted of you, I do not w •… nder. For of al men aliue, I haue known you most thankefull: The letter of Vatinius wh •… r unto this is an ans •… , was lost: as it is cu •… dent to p •… oue. whiche report I neuer ceassed to blase abroad, for the increase of your commendation. For you haue not onely giuen a testmonie of your good disposition in that case, vnto me by motions of minde, and vtterance of wordes, but your déedes also, haue in moste ample and large manner confirmed the very same. Wherfore, you shal h •… ue knowledge & experience, that in all your affaires whatsoeuer, my desire is semblable vnto yours, and my wil al one in euery respect. Whereas you commend vnto mée, Pompeia your wife and partener, a woman of great noblenes and excellencie: I had communication with •… ur fréend Suca, immediatly vpon the perusing of your Epistle, whom I willed, to say thus muche vnto her, in my name: that, in what thing soeuer, shee stoode in néede of my seruice, it would please her to send me certificate, and it should be done, with singular care and speciall regarde, to the satisfaction of her owne desire: I will therefore do no lesse then I haue said, and I wil conferre with her personally, if the matter depend vpon necessitie. Howbeit, thus much I would haue you infourme her by writing, y• there is nothing, be it litle▪ or be it great, which may séeme vnto mée, either too hard to accomplish, or too ba •… e and vile for a man of •… ny calling and countenance to attempt. All thinges, whiche I shall do, touching your businesse, shall vnto mee, be bothe easie and honest. Concerning my seruant Dionysius, that runnagate, let not your labour be lacking, if I am in your loue and fauour: what promise soeuer you make vnto him, I mée selfe will sée it perfourmet. If he be intractable, stu •… burne, and naughtily disposed, (as he is) you shall leade him in triumph as a It appeareth by this th •… t Dionisius was in the handes and power of Vatinius. captiue and prisoner. The GODS sénde a plague of confusion, among the Dalmatians, by whose meanes you are muche molested: But, according to the tenure of your writing, they shalbe taken shortly, and by them shall your prowesse be made famous: for they haue always béene counted Martiall and Warlike.

Fare you well.

Cicero to Seruilio Jsaurico. THE ARGVMENT.

He signifieth, how delectable a thing it was to him, to vnderstand the course of Seruilius his Nauigation, or trauaile by Sea: whome hee also desireth to certifie and sende him worde in writing, of the state of the Prouince, whiche he had in gouernement, together with the trade of his doinges, and affaires: finally, hee promiseth his seruice in al thinges, whatsoeuer requireable.

MErueilous pleasant and ioyfull were your letters vnto mee: whereby I vnderstoode the course of your nauigations and voyages: for This Seruilius was Ciceroes fellowe, in the office of the Augurshippe. you set downe a testimoniall of your remembraunce concerning our auncient societie and felowship: then which, nothing in the world could minister vnto mée more delectation. It remaineth, that my ioy shalbe the more augmented, if you applie your penne to write vnto mée familiarly of the state of the common wealth, that is to say, the condition of your Prouince, and also of the trade of your dealing, as your ordinances, and other affaires: whereof, although I am infourmed, by the reports of many, to your high honour, and renoune: yet notwithstanding, I would very willingly, by your letters, as more welcome messingers, be certified. I will n •… t write vnto you oftentimes, what I thinke toucheing the weale publique in generall, because the intercourse of suche letters are daungerous: But what is done heere shalbe reuealed vnto you by mine Epistles, whiche shall not be your sealdome visitoures. I am in hope thatIn the Augu •… ship Philip. 2. & Dio. lib. 4. Caesar (our felowe officer) his care hereafter, and regarde presently, will so prouide, that wée may recouer some one state of a common wealthe: at whose counselles that you bee present, it seemeth to no small purpose: But, if in your iudgement, it appeare more profitable, that is to say, more honourable, to be President and Gouernour in Asia, and to haue the tuition of that parte of the weale publique, whiche is in an yll case, and to be redressed: then the selfe same thing, whiche maketh best for the profite of your person, and is moste auayleable for your commendation, ought of me also to be desired. Touching your dignitie, and what so euer else belonging to the same, I will take vppon mée the whole charge, and therein shewe my loue and diligence: and to Who beeing surnamed, Isauricus, of Isaurū, in Pamphilia, left the same name to his sonne as a por tion of his inheritance. your Father I will haue a principall respect, as he is a right noble Gentleman, y •… eloing vnto him my helpe, with all humilitie and reuerence: vnto the perfourmaunce whereof, as to the requitall of due debt, I owe the vttermoste of my power, bothe for the auncientnesse of our acquaintaunce, and for your singular benefites: besides that also, for his owne honour and renoune.

Fare you well.

Trebonius to Cicero. ¶ TH •… ARGVM •… NT.

He declareth how ioyful and glad he is, for the good and laudable disposition of Cicero the yonger (meaning the Sonne) towardes vertue: he sendeth ce •… taine verses, which he wrote in the d •… praise and rep •… oche of an euill Citizen to Cicero the elder (supposeing the Father) desiring him to 〈◊〉 and place them, among his owne discourses, written vppon the destruction and ouerthrowe of Caesar.

IF •… ou be in healthe, it is well. I came to Athens the 〈◊〉 . of the Calendes of Iune, and there 〈◊〉 was my chance (a thing answerable to my desire) to sée your sonne, a yong man addicted to y• best kinde of studi •… , and of a passing good reporte of modesty: which thing, what pleasure it ministred vnto me, you may wel vnderstād, albeit I kéepe silence. For you are not ignorant, howe much I doe account of your person, and howe greatly, in (respect of the loue wherwith we are lin •… ked, not grounded vpon auncient nesse onely, but also vpon faithfulnesse, a moste firme and vnshaken foundation,) I reioyce for your sake, bothe for this so As a son ne of so vertuous an inclination which is a iew el of exceeding great ioy e. singular and precious a treasure, as likewise for all other small commodities redounding to your aduantage. I would not haue you suppose (my fréend Cicero) that I f •… ll your eares with these rumors touching your sonne: but it is a common voice abroade howe hee is disposed. There is nothing in the worlde vniuersal, of them, whiche are in Athens more bel •… ued, then is this your, and also our young Gentleman Cicero, (for what thing can there be within the compasse of heauen, betwixt vs twaine, seueral and not commune?) there is, I say none more desirous, to attain, y• knowledge of those artes & sciences, whiche you haue in highest estimation, I meane, those that be of moste excellencie and perfection.

Wherfore, I am glad wt al my hart on your behalfe, I speake vnfeignedly, and no lesse ioyfull for our owne sake, to tell the trueth with simplieitie: because •… ée whome of necessitie we ought to loue, howesoeuer his nature were inclined, is of so vertuous disposition, and commendable behauiour, that me must of force, iudge him woorthie of our loue and kindenesse, continually. This your Sonne, and yong Gentleman Cicero, when among other communication betwixte him and mée interchanged, he had said that he would sée Asia, I did not onely desire him, but also earnes •… ly bes •… ught him to accomplishe that his purpose, at suche tyme principally as the state of the Prouince fell into mine▪ authoritie & gouernment: vnto whom (doubt you not) such seruice shalbe exhibited, on ou •… parts, as, both 〈◊〉 •… th, and courtesie challenget •… ▪ Moreo •… r, we will haue a 〈◊〉 reg •… d, namely, thatThat famous Philosopher in the peripateticall profession: Ep. 21. lib. 10. and lib •… . &. 3. of Offices. C •… tippus, kéep •… him 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lea •… t peraduenture, you might imagine, that he intermitteth & ceasseth▪ from those notable exercises of learning whiles he maketh his abode in Asia, wherunto you incited him by your fatheuly precoptes & •… hortations, whiles he continued in Athens: for we wil not be slack to incourage him by our coūsels who is alreadie, as I sée, furnished to the purpose, and as it were with Looke in Flauius V •… getius, for the better vnderstanding of Plenus gradus militum. a full steppe marching forwarde, that he may dayly procéede further and further, bothe in the instructing of himselfe, to be the more skilful, and also in practising himselfe, to be the more cunning. Of your estate and affaires in the common wealth, I did knowe nothing, at the inditing and insealing of these letters: Certaine reportes I heard of hurlie burlies abroade, wherin I haue so litle delight, that I wishe with all my harte, they were but méere fables and va •… e forgeries, to the intent that the time may once come, wherein libertie, and quietnesse may be recouered and enioyed: of whiche benefite I haue hitherto, béene depriued.

Neuerthelesse hauing obteined a litle leasure and opportutunitie,Or, whiles we were in the Shippe, & had not so many matters wheraboutes to be occupied. through the meanes of our nauigation, I haue perfourmed a present, to the renoune of your person, aunswerable to mine owne minde, and manner: in the conclusion and end whereof, I haue set downe a worde, whiche you, to our high honour, haue fréely vttered: and I haue also, not denied mine assent to you, but subscribed accordingly. In the inuention and conueyance of whiche verses, if I shall séeme, in your iudgement, somwhat liberall in language: the vilenesse of the person, against whom we inueihe, shall dispense with our doinges in that case, and make them tollerable. You shall in like manner, pardon our anger, which is iustly kindeled against suche as he is, being bothe euill men, and no good Citizens. For end, why should it be more lawful for The write •… and deuiser of Satyres. Lucilius, then for vs, to arrogate and take vnto himself, that libertie in writing •… sithence those whom he harmed, he equally hated: and yet for all that, had not more notable aduersaries, vpon whom he might violently rush with woundin •… wordes. It shalbe your parte, according to the summe of your promise, to interlace my deuises among your treatises, for I trauel not in dubitation hereof, but that, if you write any thing at all, touching theFor this Trebonius was one of them that mur thered Caesar. death and ouerthrowe of Caesar, you wil bestowe some porcion, and the selfe same not the least both of the matter, (you knowe my meaning) and also of your good will, vpon me your petitioner. Fare you wel: and account my mother and all my friends, as persons vnto you commended.

Dated the. viij. of the Kalendes of Iune▪ From Athens.

Cicero to T. Fabio. ¶ TH •… ARGVMENT

He vseth seuen sundrie circumstances, to comfort Fabius, being in exile and banishment.

ALthough I, who am desirous to beFrom the sorowe of himselfe: for it is a kinde of consolatiō, when wee signifie our selues, to be touched with mu tual sorowe. your comforter, haue more néed my selfe to be succoured: because nothing hath this long time, séemed vnto me more gréeuous and insufferable, th •… n your priuate dammage and discommoditie: yet notwit •… nding, I do not onely exhorte you, but also for the loue wh •… •… ith we are lincked, require and beséeche you, to be of good courage, that your behauiour may be correspondēt to manhoode and valiantnesse: & that, moreouer, you would call into consideration, what is theFrom the condition of all men. common condition of all men, & From the state of the times. the qualitie of y• troublesome times, wherein we are borne by destinies appointment. Your vertue hath attributed and giuen more vnto you, then yourFrom the comparing of •… ood thinges. fortune hath derogated and taken from you: because you haue atchieued those things, which many haue wanted: & haue likewise lost that, wherof diuerse noble and honourable men are depriued. To conclude, such séemeth to be theFrom the feare of commune calamitie. successe of lawes, statutes, iudgements, determinations, and seasons, that he may thinke himself very wel sped and excused, whose luck was no worse, then with so light and small a punishment, to depart out of the common wealth.Frō hope of restitution. As for you, that want not wealth, that are not destitute of children, that haue vs, and besides vs, diuerse gentlemen more, knit close vnto you in a couenant of especiall kindenesse, and beneuolence: besides that, sithence you alone, among so many, suffer the penaltie of iudgement Because it was vniust. worthy reprehension, and whiche, asFrō the opinion of men. all holde opinion with one assent, though somewhat vncertaine, that through the power ofCaesar. one, you are pardoned: in consideration of all these circumstances, you ought to estéeme your burthen, so muche the more easie and light, and to lette the gréefe, by the iniurie of vndeserued éxile ingendred, mildely of you be susteined.

As for my heart, both towardes your selfe, and also towardes your children, it shalbe none otherwise aff •… cted, then will in you, and dutie in me, doe require.

Fare you well.

Cicero to Rutilio. THE ARGVMENT.

He desireth Rutilius, that in the diuision of landes, he would not meddle with the possessions of Albinus.

FOr so muche as, bothe by mine owne knowledge I am instructed, how highly I estéeme of your person, and againe on the other side, haue had experience & triall of youre good wil towards me oftētimes professed, I was nothing scrupulous or doubtful, to craue y• at your handes by the way of petition, which, by necessitie to craue I was constrained. What great account I make of P. Who at such time as he was Tribune of the people, brought Cicero home again out of banishment. Sextius, mine owne conscience is witnesse sufficient: and, in what reuerence I am bound of duetie to haue him, bothe you vnderstand, and no man can be ignorant. This Sextius, after he had béene certainely infourmed, by the reportes of many, that I was déepely in your fauour and friendshippe, requested me, to write vnto you, as earnestly and effectually, as was possible, touching the inheritances and possessions of C. Albinus the Senatour: of the body of whose daughter This is apparant in the Oration made for Sextius. L Sextius an excellent youngman, and the sonne of P. Sextius, descended. Thus muche haue I written, to the intent you may vnderstand, that I ought, not only for P. Sextius sake, to bestow my labour, but that it belongeth to Sextius in like manner, for the behoofe of Albinus, to employ his diligent trauell. C. Albinus receiued of A. M. Laberius certaine Manours and houldes, by Acording to the tenure of Caesars Lawe concerning valuation: lib. 3. comment. de bello ciuili. valuation and apprisement: whiche land Laberius had bought before o •… Caesar, beeing (sometime) the interest and goodes of Plotius, If I say, it maketh not for the weale publique, to haue them diuided: I might seeme rather to beare the office of an admonisher, then to play the part of a petitioner. Neuerthelesse, sithence it is Caesars wil and pleasure, that the ordinances and constitutions of Sylla touching buying and selling, should beWhen as Cae sar notwithstanding, hated •… uche as were of the sect of Sylla. rati •… ied, confirmed, and established, to the end that they might be i •… dged his by more lawe, and he therein to haue the better title: If those landes shalbe diuided, and those possessions parted, whiche Caesar himselfe hath soulde, what authoritie, I pray you, can there be in his bargains of sale, and what assurance? But the course of this cause, you, according to the worthines of your wisedome, shal call in consideration. I beséech you in this behalfe so earnestly, & so hartily, as it is not possible for me to aske any thing in the world, with a greater desire, for a matter of more equitie, or in more feruentnes of spirite, that towardes Albinus, it would please you to vfe parcialitie, and at no hand to medle or make with the landes, whiche are fallen into his own age, from the right of Laberius. You shall make mée, not onely a man passing ioyfull and merrie, but you shall, in like māner, increase mine honour and renoune, if P. Sextius, by my mediation, may satisfie the minde of him whom I loue excéedingly, for so muche as I am his debter, in many pointes of dutifullnesse: which to perfourme and accomplishe, I beséech you with instance. You cannot bestow vpon me a more acceptable benefite, and therfore in fulfilling my request, you shall dooe me a passing pleasure.

Fareyou well.

Cicero to Ualerio. THE ARGVMENT.

He desireth Valerius, that he would not suffer Curtius his ground to be diuided: which he goeth about to persuad •… by sundrie reasons.

I Am nothing disquieted, nay rather I am delighted, that the Signifying somewhat aboue bare friendshippe. entier kindenesse whiche •… th vs twaine together, is knowen among very many. Howbeit, I am not, vnto you, any impediment or hinderaunce (as you may well conceiue and thinke) whereby the matter which you haue taken vpon you, at the appointment of Caesar & his good pleasure, might not so bée order •… d, as to your credite and diligence is moste agréeable. For, sithence many clients resorte vnto mée, with their sundrie suites, as desirous of fortunate successe, because they are in a certaine persuasion, and vndoubted assuraunce, of your good will towardes me, as muche as may be, inclined: I am so circumspecte and aduised notwithstanding, that to your office, through ambition, & ouer much medling, I be not an impediment. Euer sinceHe claimeth courtesie by pleading of modestie. I was a childe, and knew what acquaintance ment, I and Q. Curtius, haue béene vnited in very great familiaritie: at whose miserie, as at the calamitie also of Syllaes time ful of tumult, I, am sory, and lament: and yet neuerthelesse, when as graunt was made by a generall consent, that such as had suffered semblable inconueniences, al that they were worth being vtterly lost and spoiled, should returne and enioy the libertie of their countrie, I withdrewe not my wil from the rest, for the furtherance of their safety. This C. Curtius hath a certaine possession, or péece of lande, lying in Volaterrano, wherto he conueyed the remnant of al his substance, as it were from the daunger of deuouring ship wracke. At this instant it hath pleased Caesar, to admit him among the order of Senatours: whiche place and office of dignitie, he can hardly & scantly mainteine, For none might be a Senatour, vnlesse his possessions were worth. D. C. C. C. thousandes. Suetonius in Augusto. None might be a Gentleman of armes vnles he were worth. CCCC thousandes. None might be L. Chamberlaine or high counsellour, vnlesse his abilitie were a. C. thousandes, not onely whiles the cō mon wealthe was standing, but in the times of the Emperours: as Plinie reporteth in an Epistle. this possession of his being not reserued & restored. And surely, it is a thing, thā which none can be more grieuous, that he whose honour is higher aduaunced, should of substance and wealth susteine greater dammage: neither is it conuenient, that he should be dispossesse of that land, which is deuided at Caesars commaū dement, who is made a Noble Senatour by Caesars beneficence. But touching the equitie & vprightnes of the thing I haue smal stomach, to vse more words in writing, lest I shold séeme to account more of the circūstances of the cause, then to estéeme of your fauour and loue. Wherefore I beséeche you moste earnestly, that you would suppose the suite of C. Curtius, as pertinent to mine own person: in so much that, what soeuer you do for my sake, by way of request, concerning the present cause of C. Curtius, persuade your selfe that you do it for Cicero: and let your opinion be occupied in this point, that what he, by your benefite, obteineth, the very same likewise Cicero receiueth: Thus muche to put in proofe, and also to perfourme, I beséeche you once again, and that with earnestnesse.

Fare you well,

Cicero to P. Sulpicio. THE ARGVMENT.

He maketh a declaration of his duetie: commendeth M. Bollanus: desireth Sulpicius to be a meane, whereby Dionysius his seruant might be apprehended.

ALthough my recourse be not so often, in these dayes specially, to the Senate: yet notwith standing, when I Thinke, that this P. Sulpicius, and P. Vatinius, vnto whom certain Epistles in the 6. booke are written, had the rule and charge of Illyricum, by •… e commaun dement of Caesar. your letter was of me read & perused: I did thinke that I might in no respect bee a hinderer of your honour & renoune, but that thereby our auncient fréendshippe should be ecclipsed, and a great portion of courteous duties, passing to and fro betwéen vs, vtterly banished. Wherefore, in your absence I failed not to be your furtherer, neither did I shewe my selfe dissolute or negligent in ordering a solemne supplication for your behoof: and as for regarde to your wealth, substaunce, reputation, & dignitie, therein I will shewe my selfe at no time wanting.

To the intent therefore, that your acquaintance may not be ignorant, with what a loueing affection I am carefull ouer your person, it is my wil and desire, that by letters from you they be shortly certified: to the end, that, if in any thing you stand in néede of mine assistance, they may not be in suspension to infourme mée of the same. Touching M. Bollanus, a man of no lesse honestie, then valiantnesse, a man (I say) furnished with all thinges, and one whom I haue loued, as a fréend, of long continuance: I send you singular commēdations. You shall do me a speciall benefite, and suche a pleasure as a greater cannot be perfourmed, if you do your endeuour, that he may vnderstand, this my commendation vnto you in his behalfe commenced, to haue béene to him, a principall helpe and aduantage: of whose good demeanour you shal so well like, that you will take him to be (as he is) a vertuous Gentleman, and a courteous. I make you this assurance by faithfull promise, that through the fruite of his friendshippe, and vse of acquaintaunce, you shall reape exceeding delectation, and swéetnesse aboue measure. Furthermore, I beséeche you instantly, as you tender our kindenesse and familiaritie, and for the loues sake whiche vnto mee you haue perpetually professed, that in this point, you would spare no paines, but labour to the vttermoste. Of him is menciō made, Ep. 9. lib. 15. to the same effect. Dionysius my seruant, to whom I cōmitted the charge of my bookes, accounts and monie, after he had by stealthe conueyed away many, of those things, wherof I put him in credite, and suspecting that his offence was suche, as deserued due punishment, he tooke his héeles, and by flight sought for refuge. He is lurking in one corner, or other, of your Prouince. M. Bollanus my familiar friend, and diuerse other a great many, saw him inI finde nothing thereof written, saue that it was a riuer in Dalmatia, now called Narenta. Ptol. lib. 2. cap 17. but it should seeme, in this place, to be the name of some countrie. Narona: to whom, after certain conference, when he had coyned this excuse, that he was, by me, manumised & set at libertie, they gaue credite to his report, & let him escape. If you wil vouchsafe for my sake, to bestowe some labour, that he may be apprehended, and sent backe againe to me his maister, what a benefite I shall receiue by your paines therein employed, I am not able, by vtteraunce, to testifie. The matter it selfe is but momentanie and light, but the gréefe of my minde is vehement and great. Bollanus will instruct you in what place he abideth, and, what is to be done in this case, if you will vse his aduise. If it be my lucke to recouer the fugitiue fellowe, I wil thinke mée selfe, to haue receiued an excéeding great pleasure.

Fare you well:

Cicero to Philippo. ¶ THE ARGVMENT.

He commendeth Oppius and Egnatius to Philippe the Proconsul, the one being present, and the other being absent.

ALthough This L. Philippus was, (as I suppose) bro ther to Lu. Phi lippus father in Lawe to Au gustus. L. F. •… ▪ N. the reuerence & certaintie of our olde acquaintance, driueth all doubtfulnesse into banishment, that I cannot choose, but thinke my commendation to be ingraffed in your remembraunce: yet notwithstanding, I am constrained of courtesie, to commend, and recommend the same, L. Oppius my familiar friend being present: and the affairs of L. Egnatius, in his absence, to your patronage and defence. So great and so sure is the fréendshippe, whiche knitteth our hartes together, and so firme is the foundation of our familiaritie. that I can not but labour, as earnestly in his businesse, that it might be furthered, as I would trauell in mine owne matters, to haue thē mainteined. Wherfore, I shal persuade mee •… selfe to bée a partaker of a principal benefite, if through your procurement, it may come to passe, that he may vnderstand, suche to be your fauourable and courteous vsage vnto my person, as I haue alwayes thought and estéemed. Than this pleasure, I cannot receiue a greater, at your handes: wherfore, to sée to the perfourmance of the same, I desire you moste earnestly.

Fare you well.

Cicero to Seruilio. ¶ THE ARGVMENT.

He commendeth Andron, the sonne of Arthemon, of Laodicea.

WHiles I was resident in my Prouince of Cilicia, wherunto (as you knowe) thrée iurisdictions of It appeareth that Laodicea, at that time, belonged to the gouernment of Asia: and not to Cilicia. for Asia was in the administration and rule of Seruilius. Ep. 68. lib. 13. Asia were assigned, I vsed the companie of no man so familiarly, as of Andron, the sonne of Arthemon the Laodicean: with him I tooke vp my lodging when I was in that citie, and I had in his house very curteous intertainment: besides that, he was a man (in my thinking) meruelous fit for my fashion of life, and such a one as I delighted much to be conuersant withal. From whō after I had departed, I began to féele more kindnes kindling in my hart, to the cō •• rmation of further freendship: because in many circumstances, I had experience of his acceptable seruice, and was throughly instructed by trial taken, that he was not vnmindefull of mée being absent. In consideration of whiche premisses, I was right glad when I sawe him at Rome. For you are not ignorant, sithence your bountie hath extended and stretched it selfe, to a great number in this Prouince, howe many Gentlemen there be found of a thankefull nature, and of manners not to be mis •… iked.

These thinges haue I written, of purpose, to let you vnderstand, that I haue a necessary cause offred me, to employ this present labour, and that you might so iudge of him, as of one woorthie of your courtesie, and deseruing gentle entertainement. I shal therefore be muche beholding to your goodnesse, if you expresse and make manifest vnto him, as it were by euidence or witnesse, how you loue mée, and in what credit I am with you, and howe you estéeme of my person: that is to say, if you receiue him to fauour, vouches •… fe to be his patrone and defender, finally, if it shall please you, in al cases and quarelles, (So farr forth to be his mainteiner, as your owne honestie and the worthinesse of your owne person will suffer. Ep. 22. lib. 1 •… . & 31. & 32. lib. 13. your honour kept vnblemished, and prouided also that you be not thereby molested) to be his furtherer. This shall make marueilously for my commoditie, and to the satisfaction of my réquest shalbe most effectual: which that you would do, I beséeche you hartily.

Fare you well.

Cicero to P. Silio. ¶ THE ARGVMENT.

He giueth Silius thankes for the honour exhibited to Nero: whom he commendeth highly in all kinde of circumstances.

MY fréend As I coniceture, this was T •… . Claudius Nero, from whom Augustus lead away L •… uia great with childe. Nero hath giuen you infinite thanks, yea such thankes, as are bothe maruelous & incredible: reporting vnto mée (in your highe commendation) that there was no degrée of honour which was possible to be bestowed, but you exhibited the same vnto him, for his speciall aduauncement. The profite and aduantage, whiche you are like hereafter to obteine, is As who should say: is great. neither smal nor indifferent. For, then that yong Gentleman, nothing is more worthie acceptation: and (out of questiō) I must néeds acknowledge, ye you haue done me a principal pleasure: for there is not one among all the Nobilitie, whom I haue in more estimation. Wherefore, if it shall please you to accomplishe those affaires, which he is desirous should fall in your charge and disposing, together with my labour and industrie: I shall thinke my selfe so gratified, as if you had •… oen me the greatest good turne in the worlde. And first, touching Pausanias Alabandensis, supporte his estate, maintaine his condition, til Meaning, aboue named Nero. Nero his comming: For I know thus much, that And also Pausanias Alaba •… densis. he is wonderfull earnest, in And also Pausanias Alaba •… densis. his behalfe: and therefore is my request also the more vehement. Moreouer, touching the Citizens of N •… a▪ a citie in Lydia. Nisaea •… s, of whom Ne •… o maketh speciall account, defending and protecting them moste diligently, so take the charge ouer them, that of their estate you shew your selfe moste carefull: t •… the intent, the whole citie may vnderstand, that the supportation and countenance of Nero, is to them a singular sa •… garde. I haue commended Strabo Seruilius vnto you oftentimes: and do the same againe at this instant, with more feruentnesse, because it hath pleased Nero to take vpon him the maintenaunce of Straaboes cause defended by Nero. his matter. Thus much by way of petiti •… n, I craue at your handes: that you would deale in his cause, and not leaue him that is innocent & blamelesse, to the gaine of any one vnlike to your owne person. This shalbe vnto mée, a point of duetie moste acceptable: and I shall haue occasion, in like manner, to thinke, that your vsage is leauened with gentlenesse. The full scope of this Epistle, is, that you would adorne Nero to the vttermost of your power (as you haue determined and done already) with al ensignes of honor. The Prouince where you are, hath a goodly great In the whiche Ne •… oes vertues may be •… eene. Theatre, & of beholders no small multitude, not as this our prouince, it hath I say many viewers of a yong Gentleman right nobly disposed, indued with wisedome, and such a one as is not gréedie of glorie, nor couetous of commendation. Wherefore, if he shalbe furthered by your fauour, as he is at this present, I hath in times past, he shalbe able to confirme and establishe those excéeding great retinues which he receiued of his auncestours, and shall binde them with the aboundance of his benefites. If you shal assist him in this order, your labour shalbe marueil •… us wel Vpon Nero, who will deserue your great courtefie. bestowed, and you shall impart to me, in semblable maner, a singular benefite.

Fare you well.

Cicero to C. Paeduce •… ino. ¶ THE ARGVMENT

This Epistle conteineth a commendation of M. Fabius.

I LoueI thinke him to be the very same whom (in the second booke of his familiar Epistes) he cō mendeth to Coelius. M. Fabius entirely, with whom mine acquaintance is, not onely very great, but also auncient. I demaund not of you, what your determinations be, touching his controuer sies: (you shall saue, as your credite and dignitie requireth, your statute and ordinaunce) but my petition vnto you, is, that he haue easie accesse to your person: that he may obtein those thinges, which are not repugnant to equitie, your will in no point withstanding: and that he may sée iust cause, and take euident proofe of my fréendshippe, how appliable it is to procure his profite, especially through you, with whome my woordes are not vnlikely to preuaile. Not to faile in this case, I beséeche you moste earnestly.

Fare you well.

Cicero to C. Munatio. THE ARGVMENT.

He commendeth L. Regulus, his free man, whose name was L. Luci •… neius, vpon certaine circumstances, seeming vnto him not vnnecessary, to be repeated.

L Lucineius Trypho is the frée man of L. Regulus my moste familiar frend, and best acquainted: the considerati •… n of whose calamitie causeth me to shewe mée selfe more officious towards him, and to exhibite larger dueties of humanitie, to do •… him pleasure. For, my beneuelence doeth neither ebbe nor flowe, but continueth at a stay vnuariable, and therefore as my good will hath béene in times past, so is it at this present: Howbeit, Trypho is suche a one as I loue by him selfe, seuerally. For the seruice which he shewed, to do me good, in those our stormy times, was singular and excée ding great, in those dayes (I say) of ours loaden, as it were, wt daungers, when I had a perfect perseuerance in discerning the bounte •… us inclinatiō of people, or (at least) skil sufficient, in perceiuingFrom suche as vsed preten ces playing the counterfectes. their faithfulnesse. We do so commend him to your protection, as men defying ingratitude, and sworne enimies to forgetfulnesse, ought (being bound of duetie) to commend them, that haue well deserued. You shal seale your friendshippe vnto mée with a principall pleasure, if he may vnderstand (because for my saftie he hath thrust himself as it were vpon He hath put himselfe into many dangerous •… duentutes. sharpe pikes, and for my sake hath passed many a voyage by sea, in the coulde time of winter) that some part of his seruice hathe beene to your aduantage: whiche, the goodwill that I beare towardes you, requireth.

Dolabella to Cicero. THE ARGVMENT.

Dolabella, Cicero his sonne in lawe, persuadeth his father, either to take part with Caesar, or else to conuey him selfe from warre, into some citie where he may liue in peace.

If you haue your health, I reioyce, I am well, and so is our Tullia, as for Whom Plime reporteth to haue liued a hundred yeares and eight. Terentia, she was not all after the best: but I am certaine, she is nowe receuered, and wareth str •… ng againe: to be short, all thinges with you are in suche good case, that they cannot be better. Although there be no cause, why you should haue mée in suspicion at any time, that I séeke to persuade you, as more regarding the part of Caesar, then hauing respecte to your safetie and good estate, to ioyne your selfe in confederacie, either with him and vs, or else, for your owne preseruation, to séeke after ease and tranquillitie: yet notwithstanding at this present, especially, sithence theFor Pom peius had lost Italie & Spaine as hereafter in this present epistle, is mencioned. victorie is so farre from being pessessed, that it is in small likelyhoode to be atchieued, I can cōceiue none other opinion, but this, that I am drawne by duetie, to deale with you, touching your estate and affaires, by order of persuasion, because I cannot in this poinct vse taciturnitie and silence, saueing the zeale and affection which in mée, towards you, For affiniti •… sake, because Dolabella ma ried Cicero his daughter. is naturally required, harmelesse and vndiminished. As for you (my Cicero) accept my woordes in such sorte, and haue such liking of my counsell, that whether you allowe it, or whether you disanull it, as well my meaning, as also my writing, may séeme in your iudgement, to haue had issue from a gentle heart, courteously disposed, and to your goodnesse most bounden and obedient. You are not vnaduised, that C. Pompeius, notwithstanding his By which circumstances he obteyned that surname of •… Mag nus, to be called▪ Pōp •… ie the great. name of noblenesse, his title of dignitie, his renowne in feates of armes, hispuisance in martiall exploites, his power by the meanes of the protection of kinges & countries, is in daunger: & that this which fortune denieth not to any one of inferiour degrée, cannot fall to his lott to obteine, namely to prepare flight, saueing his honour & honestie, 〈◊〉 that hée is driuen out of Italie, now that hée hath the repu •… out of Spaine, his tried armie, and proued souldioursIn Spaine. taken, and hée himselfe At Dyrrachium. compassed round about on all sides, and so enuironed, that hee cannot escape: the like lucke whereof, whether any Emperour of ours tasted at any time, I am ignoraunt. Wherefore, what hée, or your selfe, may hepe for hereafter, cōsider and wey w •… l in your owne mind, according to the worthinesie of your wisedome, for so shall you, with great facilitie, take such counsell, and vse such aduisement, as to your owne person wil proue in sine, most profitable. Thus much more I desire of you, that, if hée haue escaped his daunger, and kéepe himselfe close in the Nauie, that he be not bewrayed, to be From that which is profitable. carefull of your owne affaires, not to neglecte your owne estate, which ought most of all to moue you, and now at length, towards your selfe, rather then to any other, to vse more friendship. You haue done seruice sufficient already,From that which is honest. The like to this, is in Virgil. To Priam & thy coun •… rie: Th'ast shewed sufficiēt duetie. as well in consideration of duetie, as als •… in respect of acquaintaunce. Both parties are satisfied, and that common wealth, which you haue alwayes liked and loued, alloweth your doing, and is not discōtented. It remayneth, that where the weale publique is at this present, there wée also abide and be resident, rather then, whiles wée buisily hunt after an estate old and aunciente, wee haue none at all, but be quite dispossessed. In consideration of which premisses, I wishe you (my best beloued Cicero) that if peraduenture Pompeius being expelled also out of Pompeius was assaulted and set vppon at Dyrrhachium a citie in Sicilie, now (as some suppose) called Durazo. these places, flée of force and constraint, to other regions, to take your way to Athens, or else to some other citie, as it shall please you, for the enioyinge of quietnesse: which thinge if you shall doe, not reiecting my counsell tending to your commoditie, I would haue you certifie mée by your letters, that I, if by any meanes it is possible, may hasten to sée you well settled. Whatsoeuer, perteyning to your dignitie and worthinesse, remaineth to be obteined of the Emperour, it is as easie as hearte can conceiue, (such is the clemencie and gentlenesse of Caesar) to gett it, for your furtheraunce: besides that, my requeste in your 〈◊〉 vnto him, humblie made, shall preuaile and winne no 〈◊〉 authoritie. It belongeth to you, as a badge of your bountie, to procure that the selfe same messenger, whome I sent vnto you with my letters, may returne, bringing backe againe from you, to mée, a conuenient aunsweare.

Fare you well.

Cicero to Dolabella. THE ARGVMENT.

Hee writeth to Dolabella, in his highe aduauncement and commendation, because hee ouerthrewe a piller that was erected, and sett vpp in open place of assemblie, to Caesar as it were to a God. Read the •… 4 booke ad Atticum, and Lactantius lib. 1. Cap. 15.

ALthoughe I grudge not, ne repine (my He was no lōger sonne in law to Cicero▪ for he & Tullia were diuor ced. Lib. 11. Epist. ad Articū. Dolabella) at your glorious renowne, but reape thereby great ioy, and pleasure vnspeakable: y •… t I cannot, but acknowledge and confesse, that by the popular reporte and opinion, I am accompted and thought a partener of your praise. I séeke conference with no man, and yet I haue daily communication, not with a fewe (for there are very good men, a great multitude, who for the regard of their health, and maintenaunce of their owne safetie, haue recourse to Meaning Bae iae, a towne in Campania, ful of pleasaunt commodities, Epist. 12. lib. 9. where, it shold seeme he was: or else in Cumano or Tusculano. these quarters: besides them, there resort hether many of mine acquaintance, out of diuerse townes incorporate, not▪ of any great distance) but they all, one with another, Because you ouer •… hrew the piller and the altar which was erected to Caesar, of purpose to make him a God. aduauncing you with praises aboue hilles and mountaines, yea to the very heauen, giue great thankes vnto mée, immediatly thereupp •… n. For they say, that they are grounded vppon such assuraunce, and are in such certaintie of knowledge, that you, by shewing your selfe attentiue to my preceptes, and to my counsells being obedient, practise the part and duetie of an excellent citizen, and frame your selfe to such commendable vsage, as thereby you are proued a For Dolabel la & Antonie were fellowe Consuls. singular Consul. To whom, althoughe I can make a most true aunswere, that in your déedes, you followe your owne aduise and iudgemente, as not néeding any other mans counsel: yet notwithstanding, I do not assent thereunto manifestly, least I should seeme to diminish your cōmendation, if al the praise were ascribed to the benefite of my iudgement: neither yet wil I séeme vtterly to make deniall: for, in deede, I am more vaineglorious then I néede. Howbeit, y• is not repugnant to your renowne, which made much for the honour of Homer, in Iliad. lib. 1. who being •… king, •… ad the 〈◊〉 o •… th •… 〈◊〉 in who •… e 〈◊〉 we •… e •… ny king •… s. Agamemnon y• king of kings, and prince without 〈◊〉 , to haue a sage Nestor for his wi •… e •… unsellour: as for •… ée, I thinke my name not a litle nobled, •… n y• you being but a young man, and bearing the worthie of •… ce of a Consul, enioy the floure, & •… s I may say, y• pearle of praises, that you (I say) being, as it were H •… 〈◊〉 hi •… •… is 〈◊〉 . •… pi▪ 17. lib 8. & 7. & •… . lib •… . my pupill and scholer, weare the goodly garland of commendation▪ L▪ Caesar vn •… , when I ca •… e to him in his sicknesse to Ad Attic •… m Epi. 17. li. 1 •… . Naples, although euery part of his body, both limme & ioynt were disseased: yet notwithstanding, before salutation or gr •… ting finished, these words vnto me he vttered. O my friend Cicero, how reioyce I in thy behalfe, for that Dolabella hath thee in such estimation: and if I were in as great countenaunce with my M. Antonius, Dolabella his fellowe Con •… ul, whose mother s •… ued asterward L. Cae •… ar her bro ther, when hee was a proscript or outlawe. sisters sonne, our safetie had not beene now to recouer, but long ago restoared. Touching your Dolabella, I see iust cause to bee ioyfull, and likewise to bee thanckefull: whom nexte and immediatly after you, wee maye well and deseruedly call by the name of a Consul. After continuance of communication, he spake very much of your notable déede and famous enterprise, affirming, that nothing was done at any time before, tendinge more to the renowne, the honour, and th •… Appi lib. 4 de bello ciuili. safegard of the common wealth: And this reporte of L. Caesar, in your highe commendation, is common in the mouth of all men: yea, it is the conspiring voyce of the people, to the increase of your praise. But I pray you, giue me leaue to succéede you, though Because it sprang not frō mee, as from the natur •… ll stocke, and▪ therfore I am to craue and not to chalēg. not as a right, yet as a counterfect or b •… stardlike hire, in the inheritaunce of honour: and suffer mée to enter, as it were into possession, of some part or portion of your praises: howbeit my Dolabella (for whatsoeuer I haue before spoken, procéedeth of pleasure and iesting) I am muche more willing, all my commendations and titles of dignitie (if I haue, at least, any in owneage) to runne wholie into y• riuers of your r •… nowne, then to draw any one drop of your dignitie, for the inlargement of mine owne reputation and honour. For my loue and affection towardes you, hath béene hoat and feruent, as you might well perceiue: yea, so much y• more is my kindnesse kindled, through y• consideratiō of these your famous feates, that in loue nothing is possible to be more ardent or fierie, no not in the highest degrée: and good reason why: Because, Nothing in the world vniuersal, beleeue mee, then vertue is more beautifull, more precious, more louely, or amiable. I haue alwayes borne goodwill (as you knowe) to M. Brutus, for the singularitie of his wisedome, the swéetenesse of his behauiour, his incomparable honestie, and his surpassing constancie: Yet notwithstanding, in the On the v •… rie same day that he and his cō panions slewe Caesar: Epi. 28. Lib. 10. Ides of Marche, so much was added to the loue which I bare him, that I wondered, how it might be possible, that loue to increase, which séemed so to abound and duerflowe. What man would thinke, that the loue which I both professed, and perfourmed towards you, could in any one point •… ée augmented? Yet it hath so proued, that neuer vntill now I séenied to The latine copie hath Amare, and Diligere, the first exceedeth the last. Epist. 1. ad M. Bru •… um. Clodius saith, hee, Valde me diligit, fauoureth me great ly. loue you: in times past, but t •… fauour you▪ Wherfore, what remayneth wherin I should giue you exhortation? 〈◊〉 h •… ue a regard of your renowne, and not to be negligent of y •… ur glorse? Should I sot before your eyes, as it were a spec •… or looking glasse, men of great noblenesse and passing 〈◊〉 , as they are accu •… omed to doe, that vse such an order of imitation? I haue none more honourable then your owne person: bée an example to your selfe of prowe •… e, and wrestle with your selfe in worthinesse: Nay, shal I tel you what? It is now highe time for you to degenerate, & to b •… vnlike your selfe, sithens your aduentures haue béene so manfull, & your déedes so famous: which being as it is, exhortation is not necessarie to be vsed, but reioycing is requisite, and may not bée refus •… d. For, that hath chaunced vnto you, which hath fortuned to none besides, at least to a very fewe in my thinking, that For the people are better pleased with clemencie & gentlenes▪ thē with 〈◊〉 and sharpnes. Ad Atticum lib. 10. Epi. 4. great rigour and sharpe reuenge in punishment, should bée not onely not enuyed, but also highly praised, and m •… st acceptable with men of vertuous disposition: yea, with euery commoner, and person of inferioritie. If this lott had fallen into your lappe, by a certaine luck, I would haue reioyced at your good fortune and felicitie: but the valliauntnesse of your heart, the worthinesse of your wisedome, and the efficacie of your counsel, are the causes of this your prosperous chaunce. For I haue read ouer your Oration. then which nothing in my iudgemēt, is polished with more prudēce: your order was so séemely, both in clyming as it were by degrées, or footinge forward to the very cause, and reuolting from the cause to y• person of your selfe, that the That euery man thought you might lawfully take reuengement, vpon all those which erected and raised vp a piller or columne to the deifying of Cael •… r. very euent of the thing, gaue you leaue & libertie to punish: none to the contrarie withstanding. In cōsideration of which your déede, y• Citie is deliuered from daunger, and sett frée from feare: neither was the commoditie, which you procured, being exceding great, temporal and momentanie, but perpetual and euerlasting, yea, such as shall succéede you, shall take it as an example for imitation, endenouring to doe the like: So that now, by this your famous feate, thus much you are to vnderstand, that the common wealth leaneth and stayeth it selfe vpon your shoulders: and not the maintenaunce onely, but the adua •… ncement also of such persons, the As if he said That which re maineth is loked for, of you to be per fourmed. beginning of whose libertie did procéede from you, is re •… erred vnto you, and vppon you dependeth. But touching these matters, wée will haue conference shortlie more at large, as I hope: and as for you (my Dolabella) because you are a preseruer of the weale publiqu •… and our def •… nder, I counsel you to sée to your owne safeti •… , carefully and diligently.

Fare you well.

Cicero to Papirio Paeto. THE ARGVMENT.

Hee answe •… reth to two Epistl •… s of Paetus, to the first▪ in this order, that he is of right, touched with a certaine de •… ite of his well •… are, the force of whose loue towards himselfe, hee hath tasted, and the pleasauntnesse of whose witt hee hath highly esteemed: to the second •… e answeareth in this sorte, that it maketh no matter, whether h •… e be at Rome or at Naples: sithence at Rome, all th •… ngs are vnder one mans gouernment: wherefore, hee saith that hee continueth in this opinion, to buy a house to inhabite in at Naples.

I Will frame an aunsweare, •… o your two seuerall letters: one of the which I receiued two dayes past, at the hands of The names of two seruāts the last of whi che was a carrier of letters. Zethus: the other was deliuered mée by Meaning his carefulnes whereunto he hath relatiō. Phileros. By the former letter I vnderstoode, that my carefulnes for your welfare, was verie acceptable: De diuina li. 1. de sini. lib, 5 the same order of speach had pacuuiu •… , and Africanus the lesser vsed: Festus & Scneca Lib. 19. Epist. whereof I am glad you haue attained the certaine knowledge: but beléeue mée, my letters cannot make you such substanciall assurance, of my desire touching your safetie, as it is Rome whiche he preferreth b •… fore Athens: For euery mā doth rat •… er cōmēd his owne natu ral countrie, thē a foreign •… and straunge region. in déede, & triall hath testified. For, although I sée my selfe, of many had in reuer •… ce, (as I cannot otherwise report) and excéedingly beloued: Yet amonge them all, there is not, so much as on •… , in whō I reape such delight and pleasure. For, in so much as your kind hart towards mée is greatly inclined, (which you haue not, this long time changed nor discontinued, but euen at this instant, constantly put in practise) it is a thing not lightly to be regarded, & whether I maye saye chiefely to be estéemed, I am vncertaine, but doubtlesse, I may say cōmune to you and many more a great number: howbeit, in that your merits are such, as they winne goodwill, and be, as it were, baites to beneuolence, besides that, your vsage hauing in it such swéetnesse, & all kinde of delight somnesse, these properties are your owne, by title of due possession. To these your maners most séemely for a man, your talke replenished with pleasant meriments, not answerable to the trade of the Atheniens, but agréeing to the custome of the auncient Romanies, yea, correspondent to that which sprang vpp in the verie b •… some of the Rome whiche he preferreth b •… fore Athens: For euery mā doth rat •… er cōmēd his owne natu ral countrie, thē a foreign •… and straunge region. Citie: as for mée, (thinke you, as you list and like) I am meruelously delighted with merrie conceites, vttered with a pleasaunte grace, chiefely with them that bréede in oure owne countrie, (amonge the Romanes, I meane) and specially, when I perceiue them to haue a smack and smel of auncient Latium, at such time as outlandish language was brought into this citie, which sauoureth at this present, so much of A part of Gal lia, where the people did weare long mantels. Gallia Bra •… chata & He speaketh those woords, because Caesar had made many that came from Gallia trāsalpina, free denizens in Rome. Transalpina, that of our old merimentes, there is no apperāce remayning. Wherfore, at what time I haue a sight of you, me thinkes (to tel the truth without gloase of lying) I sée the Gentlemē ful of merie conceites: To Laelius in the 1. de o •… si. he asscribeth a pleasant coun 〈◊〉 : and in lib. de cla •… is. Ora hee commendeth him for his tr •… mme eloquent tongue. I merua •… le he forgot Caesar brother to Catulu •… , who exceeded al other in vtte •… ng d •… light some •… eastes with a co •… uenient grace. Lib. 1. de o •… fi. & lib. 2. de Ora. Gracchies, the Lucilies, the Crassies also, & the Laelies: and all the auncient Romanes in that thing famous & memorable. I would I were dead, if besides you, I knowe one left, in whom I maye acknowledge the image of oure aunciente and domestical pleasauntnesse to continue, and remaine. To these swéete and delectable i •… astes in communication, 〈◊〉 so great l •… e is lincked, and all for my cōmoditie, mer •… aile you that I was so sore discouraged, vppon the conceite of your health, which I w •… uld not haue to be in hazard: As touching your purgation or excuse, which you vsed in your other letter, that did not dissuade me from purchasing a new house at Naples, wherein to inhabite, but that you did rather co •… sell mée to make mine aboade still in the citie: I •… ooke your meaning aunswearable to your words. Howbeit, thus much I perceiued then, and by this letter I vnderstand no l •… sse, your opin •… ō to haue tended to this marke, that I might lawfully (of which minde I méeselfe was) not giue ouer all mine affaires in the citie vtterly, but a great part of them for my priuate quietnes. You alledge vnto mée in this behalfe, Catulus for an example, and those times full of troubles: but wherein am I and Catulus to be likened and compared? It was no pleasure vnto mée, no, not when I was vniustly condemned to exile, to discontinue long from the safegard of a common wealth: For wée satt at y• sterne, and had the weale publique in •… ur rule and gouernement: but now we haue no place allowed vs, no not scarsely next We are contemp •… ible per son •… , and thoughte vnworthi •… of any place, though neuer so vile and obs •… ure. the pump, or the sinckhole. Thinke you, that the actes and ordinaunces of the Senate would be the fewer, if I were at Naples? When I am resident at Rome, the Iudges are assembled by my meanes, the court and counsell, thorough my procurement, gather together, the decr •… s▪ of the Senate are •… ntred into writi •… g, in the house of your * welwiller, and my familiar friend: & surely, when it commeth into his memorie, I am admitted to theEpi. 25. lib. 9. some thincke that these woordes are spoken ironically. penning of mine opinion: and I heard say, that there was a report brought to Armenia and Syria, that the decrée of y• Senate (as it was said) was not disagréeable to my iudgement, long before the matter was menc •… oned. I would not haue you thinke that I am disposed to ieast: For, let this not bée vnknowne to you, that I haue had deliuered to my handes, letters from kinges of farre countries, wherein they giue me great thankes, in that I call them by such a As, by the name of kings. royall name, and ascribe vnto them, in the vtteraunce of my sentence so 〈◊〉 •… tles •… eing guoran •… •… no •… only wh •… ther they •… ucre so called, but also not knowing in the world, whether they mounted to the same, by the 〈◊〉 of their byrth. What th •… is there to be say •… further? So long as he shal remaine He speaketh of Caes •… , w •… ō the Senat had created censor, or magistrate for the reformation of ab •… ses in •… our, for the terme of three yeares. Diod. lib. 43. our president and gouernour, for the reformation of manners: so long as he shall occupie the name of a magistrate, I will be ruled by your adui •… emēt: but when his office is resigned, and he from hen •… e departed. I w •… ll acquaint my selfe with your cheare, though it be but simple: If I shall be prouided of an house, for ten dayes space, I will disbursse for euery day, after y• rate appointed, by the lawes made for expences. But if I shall finde none to do me seruice, nor to my contentation, then haue I determined to take vp my lodging, in your mansion. For I am certaine, that I can not please you better, thē to reape the aduauntage of such an occasion. Touching Sullane house, I was in desperat dout of it, as in my last letters vnto you directed, I let you vnderstande, howbeit I haue not quite forsaken it. I would haue you, according as you write, to haue carpenters about you. and to viewe it where it is decayed, and standeth in néede of repayring. For if the walles be not ruinous, nor the roofe rotten, of the rest I shall like well enough.

Fare you well.